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The 2018 autumn selling season saw fewer bidders at its weekend auctions, which triggered a marked decline in clearance rates along with property prices beginning to fall.
On the final Autumn weekend, agents secured a national clearance rate of 59.7 per cent, according to CoreLogic, which was well down on summer's final weekend when 70.5 per cent of stock was sold in late February.
The gardening guru television host Brendan Moar is among the last minute Autumn listings with his Camperdown going to auction next weekend, before the cyclical winter listings hibernation takes effect from the June Queens Birthday long weekend.
Moar's four bedroom home is a fusion of futuristic modernist styles, according to the marketing by the BresicWhitney Glebe agents Chris Nunn and Nick Playfair.
They describe the home as a one-off poolside entertainer spanning three levels. 
A top floor master retreat comes with its own roof garden.
Moar paid $1,265,000 in 2009 for the home that is scheduled for June 2 auction with a price guide of $2.5 million.
The garden recently featured on The Living Room on Channel 10.
Sydney had the nation's dearest weekend result. It was a parkside lagoon four bedroom house at Manly (top).
The <a id="x_mcntLPlnk590898" class="x_mcntOWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-manly-128275026" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">53 Eurobin Avenue offering</a> sold to a Singaporean, according to Fairfax Media, for $4.615 million just above its $4.5 million expectations through Clarke and Humel agent Michael Clarke.
Melbourne had the nation's cheapest sale.
The $225,000 sale was a <a id="x_mcntLPlnk235819" class="x_mcntOWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/20-16-south-circular-road-gladstone-park-vic/property-details-buy-residential-11831239/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">one bedroom unit at Gladstone Park</a>. The 20/16 South Circular Road offering (below) last sold in 2016 at $185,000. It had been listed with $190,000 to $209,000 price guidance.
<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/2018/5/28/glad.jpg" alt="">
It was offered on a secure fixed lease until January 2019 at $978 per calendar month. It comes with a covenant stating that its occupier - but not necessarily its owner - must be 55 years of age or older, the marketing agent advised.
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-paras x_mcntsection">
The most expensive Melbourne house was Granada, a five bedroom house at St Kilda (below). The <a id="x_mcntLPlnk541754" class="x_mcntOWAAutoLink" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/28-eildon-road-st-kilda-vic/property-details-sold-residential-11835567/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">28 Eildon Road</a> property, a 1928 architect designed five bedroom Spanish Mission trophy home, sold through Marshall White for $4 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/2018/5/28/st%20kilda1.jpg" alt="">
The buyers guide was $2.7 million to $2.9 million, with the property announced on the market at $3 million.
It last sold at $885,000 in 1998.
</div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection">Adelaide recorded the highest capital city clearance rate of 66 percent, with only 31 percent of homes sold in Perth.</div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"> </div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection">Melbourne recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 60 per cent.</div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"> </div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection">Sydney, with 808 auctions held across the city, returned a 62 per cent preliminary clearance rate.</div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"> </div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection">Click here <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/5/28/May28_auctions.jpg" target="_blank">to enlarge.</a>
</div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"> </div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"><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/2018/5/28/May28_auctions.jpg" alt=""></div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"> </div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection">CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan expected final results to be lower after unreported auctions were added to the calculation.</div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection"> </div>
<div class="x_mcntcq-article-content-media x_mcntsection">AMP Capital chief economist Shane Oliver told Domain that finalised clearance rates in the low 50 per cent range had been historically associated with falling prices.</div>
<div class="cq-article-content-media section"> </div>
<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="5"><tbody>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_0">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_0" align="left">Sydney</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_0" colspan="2">53 Eurobin Av, Manly NSW 2095, 4 br House, Clarke &amp; Humel Property Management Pty Ltd</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_0">$4,615,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_1">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_1" align="left">Melbourne</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_1" colspan="2">28 Eildon Rd, St Kilda VIC 3182, 5 br House, Marshall White Bayside</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_1">$4,000,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_2">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_2" align="left">Adelaide</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_2" colspan="2">9 Owen St, Goodwood SA 5034, 3 br House, Klemich Real Estate - RLA174424</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_2">$1,010,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_3">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_3" align="left">Brisbane</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_3" colspan="2">107 Upper Lancaster Rd, Ascot QLD 4007, 4 br House, RW Ascot</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_3">$1,550,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostExpensive_trMostExpensiveRow_4">
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveCity_4" align="left">Canberra</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveLocation_4" colspan="2">9 Warramoo Cr, Narrabundah ACT 2604, 5 br House, Belle Property Kingston</td>
<td id="x_rpMostExpensive_tdMostExpensiveSold_4">$1,578,000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
Most affordable
</td>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_0">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_0" align="left">Sydney</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_0" colspan="2">20/68 Bayswater Rd, Rushcutters Bay NSW 2011, 0 br Studio, Laing+Simmons Potts Point</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_0">$436,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_1">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_1" align="left">Melbourne</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_1" colspan="2">20/16 South Circular Rd, Gladstone Park VIC 3043, 1 br Unit, Barry Plant Gladstone Park</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_1">$225,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_2">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_2" align="left">Adelaide</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_2" colspan="2">11 McNamara St, Modbury Heights SA 5092, 3 br House, Weeks &amp; Macklin</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_2">$310,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_3">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_3" align="left">Brisbane</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_3" colspan="2">55 Bestman Av, Bongaree QLD 4507, 2 br House, RW Bribie Island</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_3">$490,000</td>
</tr>
<tr id="x_rpMostAffordable_trMostAffordableRow_4">
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableCity_4" align="left">Canberra</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableLocation_4" colspan="2">26/126 Thynne St, Bruce ACT 2617, 2 br Unit, LJH Belconnen</td>
<td id="x_rpMostAffordable_tdMostAffordableSold_4">$344,000 
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
SOURCE APM
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Autumn auctions sees price fall as clearance rate declines

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The Mid-century modern house at Church Point, the Northern Beaches region of Sydney, has been sold by Iolanda Trovatello and Simon Rawson from Wiseberry.
Perched amongst the trees, the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-church+point-127514694" target="_blank">105 McCarrs Creek Road </a>home was designed in the 1960's by renowned Australian architect Stan Symonds.
<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/2018/3/14/church%20point%202.jpg" alt="">
The four bedroom home offers an abundance of natural light with bespoke floor to ceiling glass windows, and encompasses its surroundings with a rock feature in the upstairs living area.
The 1229sqm property comes with sun-drenched living/dining room flows onto balcony with Pittwater glimpses, spacious kitchen and two undercover car spaces.
The Waterfront Cafe, restaurant and Holmeport Marina are within short walking distance. 
 
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Church Point Mid-century modern house sold by Wiseberry 

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An Eaglemont four bedroom house that won the prestigious Victorian Architecture Medal for the RAIA's Best House Of The Year in 1965, has been listed for sale with a price guide of $1.855m. 
The Mid-century modern home has been listed by Paul Carbone and Brad Pearce from Miles Real Estate. 
<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/EAGLEMONT%202.jpg" alt="">
Set on a cul-de-sac end, the 1034 sqm property is within the Glenard Estate.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-eaglemont-127939858" target="_blank">4 Ormond Road </a>home features four fitted bedrooms, living room with full-height windows and doors, dining room with cantilevered table and sun-filled family room. 
<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/EAGLEMONT%202.jpg" alt="">
There is potential for second-level views over the Yarra Valley to the ranges. 
Another Eaglemont three bedroom house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-vic-eaglemont-127634670" target="_blank">78 Studley Road</a> was sold for $1.29 million earlier this month. 
<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/EAGLEMONT%203.jpg" alt="">
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Award winning modernist Eaglemont trophy home listed

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GUEST OBSERVATION
As politicians raise concerns about immigration straining infrastructure and public services in Australia’s state capitals, the federal government is considering the idea of binding immigrants to particular regional and rural areas.
The minister for citizenship and multicultural affairs, Alan Tudge, was quoted as saying:
"We’re looking at ways that we can effectively bind people to the regions if they’ve got a sponsorship to go to those locations."
The idea behind these sorts of policies is also to develop regional and rural economies. But in recent research with co-authors Louise Roos and John Madden, we find that binding migrants on temporary 457 visas to the country is largely ineffective in boosting regional economies in the long run.
The 457 visa program (replaced in April 2017 with a stricter but essentially similar temporary skill shortage visa) allowed employers to bring in foreign skilled workers for up to four years. While employers in any location can apply, the program can be used to direct migrants to non-urban areas, because visa holders are bound to the employers and their locations.
As part of our research, we modelled two scenarios. In the first we looked at what happens with regionally targeted 457 visas, by assigning workers on these visas to non-metropolitan regions. In the second we modelled what would happen if the visa holders were to settle across regions according to their current settlement patterns.
We took into account the labour market and visa details of workers in each capital city and in the rest of each state or territory (except for the ACT, which we treated as one territory). We also factored in the desire of workers to change occupations and regions due to movements in wages.
At the national level, we found that employment and real GDP increase by nearly identical amounts and, likewise, decreases in national wages are the same under programs where immigrants are targeted to rural and regional areas and where they haven’t been targeted.
At the regional level, in the short run, we found targeted visa programs boost regional activity. But this does not hold in the long run. After five to 10 years, economic variables such as real regional GDP and regional employment start to look the same as the untargeted scenario.
The reason for this largely lies in the regional displacement of workers already in the country. In the short run, the targeted migration program boosts workers in the target region. This causes wages in the region to fall relative to wages in other regions. This discourages workers from other regions from moving to the region, and encourages workers in the region to leave.
We have also examined what would happen with permanent skilled migration programs targeted at regional and rural areas.
There are a number of permanent regional skilled migration programs, such as the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme, the skilled nominated visa and the skilled regional visa. In these schemes visa holders can remain in the country indefinitely, although they must remain in their nominated region for at least two years. This is in contrast to temporary visa holders, who must eventually depart Australia unless, as many do, they transition to a permanent visa.
In investigating targeted permanent visas, we found similar results to temporary visas. The short-run employment and regional GDP gains from regionally targeted migration programs, whether under permanent or temporary visa arrangements, gradually become like those of untargeted programs.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/96852/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Over time, new immigrants move to other regions, mostly to capital cities, or go overseas. Even if implementable and effective policies could be found to bind new immigrants to regions, the displacement effect we’ve outlined would continue to weaken the long-run impact on regional populations and economies.
James Giesecke, Professor, Centre of Policy Studies and the Impact Project, Victoria University
Nhi Tran, Senior Research Fellow, Victoria University
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/forcing-immigrants-to-work-in-regional-areas-will-not-boost-regional-economies-in-the-long-run-96852" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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Forcing immigrants to work in regional areas will not boost regional economies in the long run

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Groundwater being pumped from a highland aquifer, only to be whisked away in tankers and sold in little plastic bottles by a multinational corporation – it’s a difficult concept for a small farming town to swallow.
Just ask the residents of Stanley, Victoria, whose four-year court battle to stop a farmer bottling local groundwater for Japanese beverage giant Asahi ended in failure last month. They were left with a A$90,000 bill for legal costs.
Locals have clashed with the bottled water industry in many parts of the world, including the United States and Canada, and perhaps most famously in the French spa town of Vittel, where residents have accused Nestlé of selling so much of their water to the rest of the world that they barely have enough left for themselves.
These conflicts demonstrate the challenge of balancing the competing demands on water drawn from underground. Compared with surface water, which is less tricky to monitor, groundwater is far harder to govern.
Under the Australian Constitution, water is primarily governed by the states. In Victoria, groundwater in high-use areas is managed using groundwater management plans under the Water Act, and water for commercial or irrigation purposes requires a take and use licence. This licence specifies the maximum volume of water a user is allowed to divert each year and under what conditions - what is often called an ‘entitlement’.
If a licence-holder wants to amend their licence, they need to apply to their regional water corporation.
It was one such application that triggered the dispute in Stanley. Local farmer Tim Carey applied to change the source of 19 million litres of his existing licence from surface water to groundwater, and from agricultural to commercial purposes. This would allow him to truck the water to a bottling plant run by Mountain H2O, owned by Asahi.
The changes were approved by Goulburn-Murray Water under the local water management plan. Stanley’s residents were concerned about the impact on irrigation and the environment, and tried to challenge Carey’s operation under local planning laws. But the court said that his approved water licence meant he didn’t need planning approval too. With no clear legal options now left for local residents, that may well prove to be the final say on the matter.
How did this happen?
Unfortunately, before about 1980, water entitlements were given away like kittens by various water agencies. As a result, in some areas, users are entitled to much more water than they actually use - sometimes more than is sustainable. And politics generally precludes any intervention to amend these inflated entitlements once the licence-holders have become used to having them.
Extensive droughts in the late 1970s and early 1980s, combined with the Darling River’s striking algal bloom in the early 1990s, catapulted the importance of effective water management into the public consciousness.
In 1997, this resulted in “the cap” – limits on surface water diversions in the Murray-Darling Basin. However, the cap didn’t limit groundwater extractions, which then increased dramatically. The regulation of groundwater, memorably described in an 1861 court case as too “secret, occult and concealed” to even attempt, has long lagged behind that of surface water.
It wasn’t until the Millennium Drought (2000-09), with the advent of the National Water Initiative and the federal Water Act 2007 that Australian groundwater management underwent significant, large-scale reform. The main thrusts of the reforms were the development of legal and planning frameworks to achieve sustainable management of surface and groundwater, and the restructuring of water markets to be nationally compatible.
The new water governance regime created under the federal Water Act, under which the Commonwealth assumed important powers over waters in the Murray-Darling Basin, allows for groundwater markets and new limits on groundwater withdrawals. Groundwater trading is generally constrained by rules that require the “to” and “from” locations to be hydrologically connected to one another.
Stanley’s groundwater falls within a new mega-planning area that covers great swathes of northern Victoria. The new management plan for this area is due at the end of the year, but is currently only 30% complete.
Even if the plan is finished on time, groundwater sustainability in regions like the Ovens might elude us. Limits on water extraction are generally based on the entitlements in the area. But as current groundwater usage is less than those entitlements, “sleeper” licences can still be activated. During shortages, when the economic value of water peaks, people can trade water that would otherwise remain unused. In some management regions, the total entitlement volume is roughly double or more than the actual usage.
The Stanley case shows how communities can mobilise when groundwater moves from one use to another. If new plans further encourage groundwater markets, we should brace ourselves for more of the same – although it is unclear whether other communities would enjoy any more legal success than the people of Stanley.
What are management decisions based on?
High-profile cases like Stanley’s highlight the need for a robust scientific basis for licensing decisions. Communities facing change will have a difficult time accepting decisions that are not supported by rigorous science.
Unfortunately when it comes to groundwater, it’s far from straightforward to work out how much water is down there and where it goes. An expert hydrogeologist retained by Stanley’s residents argued that the modelling used to estimate the impact of the bottled water extractions was very simplistic. Mapping groundwater with an overly simplistic model is akin to using an identikit sketch of a smiley face to catch a criminal.
But water corporations have finite resources, and if we want in-depth analysis, then we need to invest in management planning tools such as drilling programs and numerical groundwater models supported by monitoring data and surveys of groundwater-dependent ecosystems. This sort of analysis is time-consuming, expensive and currently a political stretch. Governments only tend to spend serious money on groundwater investigations once people start running out of water.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/96418/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">However, if we want to get groundwater licensing right, it needs to be scientifically robust, environmentally sustainable, and procedurally fair. As Stanley’s residents discovered, there might be no second chance.
Emma Kathryn White, PhD Candidate, Infrastructure Engineering, University of Melbourne
Rebecca Louise Nelson, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Melbourne
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-happens-to-small-towns-whose-water-becomes-big-business-for-bottled-brands-96418" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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What happens to small towns whose water becomes big business for bottled brands?

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EXPERT OBSERVATION

With the advent of lower clearance rates, we are seeing more Melbourne auctions ending in a pass in.

A “pass in” occurs when the bidding at an auction does not reach the vendor’s reserve and, as such, the auctioneer having failed to illicit a high enough bid, passes the property in and according to the rules of the auction, must negotiate with the highest bidder first. 

If you have been to many auctions, you will probably have heard the auctioneer open up the auction with a “vendor bid”.

This is a bid, made by the auctioneer, on behalf of the vendor, quite often, to kick things off and get the bidding started.

But it is sometimes used by auctioneers to advance the bidding if they have only one bidder.

In other words, a bidder from the crowd bids $600,000 and nobody else says anything, so the auctioneer will bid $650,000 “Vendor Bid” and then ask the original bidder to go over the top. 

Now the auctioneer will say things like, only the top bidder gets the lawful right of first negotiation and as the Vendor Bid is the highest, then nobody has this right.

This is totally incorrect and a total lie.

The highest “real bid” from the audience does have the first right to negotiate with the vendor. 

In both 2012 and again in 2016 the Real Estate Institute of Victoria analysed the rules and publicly acknowledged that if a genuine bid had been made, that no vendor bid could be used to remove the right to first negotiation. 

<a href="https://www.consumer.vic.gov.au/housing/buying-and-selling-property/selling-property/selling-property-by-auction" target="_blank">Consumer Affairs Victoria </a>have also addressed this exact situation and on their website has said that the highest bidder has the first right too negotiate with the vendor.

This includes if the property is passed in on a vendor bid.

So, if you are bidding anywhere in Victoria on Saturday and you have the highest bid, and the auctioneer tries to remove your right of first negotiation by continually vendor bidding over you, call him out.

If you are the highest “real” bid you do have the first right to negotiate ahead of anyone else.

Ian James is a director at JPP Buyer Advocates

<h2>Recently listed properties in Melbourne:</h2>

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3565]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4939]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=22699]
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Don't get fooled by a vendor bid, Victorian bidders have rights: Ian James

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An 1890 Hunters Hill sandstone house was sold by Tracey Dixon and Nicholas Cowdrill from McGrath Hunters Hill last month.
Reinvented by architect Kerry Fyfe from Allen Jack and Cottier, the contemporary home features water views. 
<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/2018/5/25/hunters%20hill%202.jpg" alt="">
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-hunters+hill-127617118" target="_blank">Located at 27 Glenview Crescent</a>, it comes with four bedrooms, formal and informal living areas, expansive timber balconies and gourmet island kitchen. 
Other features include swimming pool, four marble fireplaces, rosewood parquetry flooring and double garage. 
<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/2018/5/25/hunters%20hill%203.jpg" alt="">
It's only a stroll to Hunters Hill Village, shops, cafes and CBD transport.
The property had last sold at $770,000 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/2018/5/25/hunters%20hill%204.jpg" alt="">
Its contents have been listed under instructions from the vendors due to the recent sale.
Charleston’s Fine Art Auctions have been appointed to sell the Victorian mahogany Dining table and sideboard, modular lounge suite, Aboriginal paintings by Gabriella Possum and Jeannie Pitjarra, Art of Stone chairs, fine Inlaid silk Keshan carpet, various Persian tribal rugs, Gillie and Marc and Mark Hanham paintings, and a large outdoor Children’s bronze.
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Sandstone 1890s Hunters Hill trophy home sold

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Estate agents in Sydney’s inner west have been fined for underquoting in breach of the law after being caught in a crackdown by the NSW Department of Fair Trading.
Nineteen unidentified agents in breach of the law were fined for underquoting.
Of the 37 agents visited in the area, 27 were deemed non-compliant, according to a statement from the Minister of Better Regulation Matt Kean who noted more than $66,000 was secured in fines.
Agents were found to be “pitching expected sales prices far below the final value, or failing to provide mandatory written records on the expected price,” Kean said.
The agents targeted for inspection were in the suburbs of Ashfield, Burwood, Canterbury, Croydon Park, Drummoyne, Dulwich Hill, Five Dock, Leichhardt, Marrickville, Newtown, Petersham, Strathfield and Summer Hill.
The government did not name the agencies that were fined.
“The inner west is one of the busiest real estate markets in Sydney right now, with more people wanting to live in the area than ever before,” Kean said.
“I’m really disappointed to hear that some real estate agents are taking advantage of consumers, instead of looking out for their best interests.”
The Department regularly undertakes compliance programs based on a range of factors, including market research, intelligence and complaints data, the spokesperson said. 
Real estate agents on the Northern Beaches had Fair Trade compliance inspections in March, with seven of 17 were fined for underquoting.
Western Sydney agents <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/real-estate-agents-in-sydneys-west-fail-nsw-fair-trading-inspection-20180209-h0vuny/" target="_blank">were checked in February,</a> and 18 of the 24 agents inspected were fined for not meeting necessary standards, including underquoting.
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Sydney estate agents fined for underquoting 

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Crime and insecurity are deeply entrenched in some cities. While we have rankings of the most dangerous cities in the world, this does not give a clear picture of how and why dangerous spaces develop in cities.
We are analysing case studies from cities in France, Colombia, Brazil and Australia to understand the factors that lead to insecurity, and to examine possible solutions.
Risks of ghettos in Australia
Australian cities aren’t immune to the dangers. While there is no clear upward trend in crime nationally, the social polarisation and concentration of certain crimes in parts of the cities of Sydney and Melbourne are cause for concern. As a result, New South Wales and Victoria are the states with the highest rates of unlawful entry and armed robbery.
Sydney in particular is experiencing a “ghettoisation effect”. Social polarisation between suburbs is increasing. Another issue in Sydney’s western suburbs is domestic violence.
While crime rates here are much lower than in cities in Latin America and France, we need to be mindful of how neighbourhoods can become dangerous through neglect by planners and policymakers.
What can we do about it?
Social disorganisation theory has dominated research in this field. Central to this approach are neighbourhood mechanisms to reduce crime and disorder.
Some have criticised this theory for not considering the influences on crime of the larger urban political economy. Political and economic decisions may have direct effects by increasing unemployment, residential instability (via planning and housing policies) or population density (via zoning policies).
Reducing crime is also the job of planners. Research has shown, for instance, that better planning can reduce the tragedies of domestic violence.
Incentives at the city scale – such as tax breaks and policies to decentralise public services and promote economic activity in poorer outer suburbs – need to be twinned with strategies to foster social integration at the neighbourhood level.
Latin America: a focus on Colombia and Brazil
Violence and high crime rates have created stark divisions in some Latin American cities. Residents have responded with several strategies to feel safe at home.
In Argentina, crime rates soared after the political and financial crisis of 2001. Citizens started building barricades and fortified their living environments with all types of security devices. Gated communities became the preferred type of housing, especially for upper-middle-class groups who could afford it.
However, gating and security devices have not been successful deterrents to crime. The strategies that have succeeded are linked to encouraging more social integration, shared use of public space, and less opposition to and marginalisation of “the other”.
“Social urbanism” policies in cities like Medellín, Colombia, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have led to dramatic reductions in crime. The idea of these interventions is not only to physically upgrade housing and public space, but to improve social outcomes.
In Medellín, public space was improved in some of the poorest neighbourhoods, which included new infrastructure. Alleys were upgraded, to make walking easier and increase safety, and the famous escalators were built. The community manages these escalators, which improve access to the upper areas of neighbourhoods and help create safer environments.
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/217392/original/file-20180503-83693-dfjkg9.JPG?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=237&amp;fit=clip" alt="">
One of the escalators managed by the local community in Medellín. Sonia Roitman. Author provided
The installation of aerial public transport (“metrocable” cable cars) also improved access and helped integrate these areas with the city centre. This in turn led to greater awareness of their existence and less prejudice against them as areas of marginalisation. Residents of other areas who wouldn’t normally travel through these poor neighbourhoods became more aware of them while using public transport.
In the case of Brazil, the Favela Bairro program to upgrade slums in Rio de Janeiro in the late 1990s succeeded in integrating favelas with the city to improve living conditions and reduce crime rates.
For such projects to succeed it is essential to have community participation, engagement and buy-in.
Urban policy in France
The 2005 riots in French cities were the results of both structural issues, such as unemployment and police violence, and long-term social and spatial segregation.
Since the 2000s, the “action on places” paradigm has dominated urban policy. Its goal has been to tackle spatial inequality, with the National Agency for Urban Renewal (ANRU) playing a central role.
In exchange for state funding, cities had to commit to eradicate old social housing projects and build new residential buildings.
Previously, the policy for “deprived neighbourhoods” allowed elected officials and local representatives of the state a larger choice of strategies. These included renovation, positive discrimination, mediation, and the development of local community-led initiatives.
The urban renewal policy, launched in 2003, restricted the range of strategies. It is now criticised because it changed the urban form of neighbourhoods without really changing the social issues.
Today, the possible avenues for action are more diverse. Efforts are concentrated in the most deprived neighbourhoods, with employment, education and security as the budget priorities.
Build on existing social ties
Many strong social ties exist in these so-called deprived neighbourhoods. One promising avenue for action, but which currently attracts the least investment, is to focus on the strengths of those neighbourhoods. This can be done by supporting local initiatives, especially those led by women.
In the book Remake the City, two French researchers stress that it is illusory to think that solutions imposed from above can prevent ghettoisation. They see a need to learn from the experiments carried out in Latin America and in the United States. In the US, the rise of the “community development corporation” has helped to turn negative situations into experiences that foster social integration at the neighbourhood level and present a more positive image of the “ghetto”.
<img src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/94418/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1">Even if the contexts are very different, these examples show that the factors at work in places at risk of ghettoisation need to be analysed at different scales. Solutions need to integrate bottom-up actions with strong engagement from communities and a policy rethink on the structural drivers of strong social and spatial segregation in cities.
Sebastien Darchen, Lecturer in Planning, The University of Queensland
Gwendal Simon, Assistant Professor of Planning and Urban Planning, Université Paris-Est Marne-la-Vallée (UPEM)
Sonia Roitman, Senior lecturer in Development Planning, The University of Queensland
This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" target="_blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/when-neighbourhoods-become-dangerous-look-to-local-strengths-for-a-lifeline-94418" target="_blank">original article</a>.
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When neighbourhoods become dangerous, look to local strengths for a lifeline

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CoreLogic have looked at where you’ll find a unit with a median value of under $500,000 close to the CBD.
The results highlight that housing options under $500,000 are available much closer to the CBD for units compared with houses. This likely also goes some way to explaining why in Sydney and Melbourne, where house values are falling, the more affordable unit market is holding up better).
While most Australians still aspire to own a house, the cost of well located houses, particularly in the larger capital cities, is restrictive.
As a result an increasing number of buyers are choosing to purchase more affordable units which offer the ability for owners to live in more desirable suburbs at a lower price point than purchasing a house.
<ul>
<li>Sydney</li>
</ul>
Lakemba is the suburb closest to the city centre with a median unit value below $500,000.
Located just over 12km from the city centre, the median value is $435,314. Compared to other capital cities, unit values below $500,000 are typically much further away from the city centre.
<ul>
<li>Melbourne</li>
</ul>
The Melbourne CBD has a median unit value below $500,000 and most of the suburbs surrounding the CBD also offer units which are typically valued below $500,000. Compare this to the detached housing market where the suburb closest to the city with a median below $500,000 was 16km away.
<ul>
<li>Brisbane</li>
</ul>
Most suburbs in Greater Brisbane have a median unit value below $500,000. Even within the CBD and surrounds median unit values generally sit below $500,000 offering a much more affordable alternative, particularly in the inner city to houses.
<ul>
<li>Adelaide</li>
</ul>
Units are much more affordable than houses throughout the city. In fact, throughout the whole city there are only five suburbs in which median unit values are in excess of $500,000.
<ul>
<li>Perth</li>
</ul>
While most of the suburbs surrounding Perth’s CBD have a median unit value below $500,000 there remains many suburbs with a median value of more than $500,000. These suburbs are typically along the coast or along the Swan River in some of the more exclusive enclaves.
<ul>
<li>Hobart </li>
</ul>
With a citywide median unit value well below $500,000 most of the suburbs across Hobart have a median value below $500,000. In fact, across the whole city only 3 suburbs have a median unit value of more than $500,000.
<ul>
<li>Darwin</li>
</ul>
Only one suburb in all of Greater Darwin has a median unit value of more than $500,000. As a result, the supply of relatively affordable unit stock is significant, particularly when compared to houses below $500,000.
<ul>
<li>Canberra</li>
</ul>
While there was only 1 suburb with a median house value below $500,000 there are substantially more suburbs with a median unit value below $500,000. Many of these suburbs are also quite close to the city centre resulting in a cheaper and more viable housing alternative in these areas.
<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/2018/5/25/CORELOGIC%20PLUSE%201.jpg" alt="">
 
<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/2018/5/25/CORELOGIC%20PLUSE%202.jpg" alt="">
Property Observer spotted a Lakemba two bedroom unit in Sydney has been recently sold for $442,000 (pictured below).
Set back from the street on the second level, the <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-unit-nsw-lakemba-128259782" target="_blank">9/94 Sproule St apartment</a> features two bedrooms, open living and dining zone, eat-in kitchen, and lock up garage. 
It is less than 10 minutes walk to Lakemba Station, buses and shops.
<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/2018/5/25/lakemba%20.jpg" alt="">
A Brisbane City two bedroom apartment with city and mountains views currently on the market is priced at over $477,000 (pictured below).
Situated in popular Aurora Towers, <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-brisbane+city-128310802" target="_blank">the 398/420 Queen Street apartment features two bedrooms, </a>open plan living and dining area and balcony with the views.
Aurora resident facilities include a pool, spa, sauna, gym, cinema, sun deck and BBQ area.
The 86 square metre apartment is close to dining, entertainment and retail options in the CBD, public transport and universities.
<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/2018/5/25/brisbane%20city.jpg" alt="">
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Where can you buy a sub-$500,000 unit in our capital cities?

The Gold Coast economy has grown by 25 per cent since 2020/21 to surpass $55 billion, but perhaps the more significant story is what sits behind the headline number.

For decades, the Gold Coast has been viewed through the lens of tourism, lifestyle and population growth. The latest State of the City Report suggests that perception is increasingly out of step with reality.

Released by Invest Gold Coast, the report ranks the Gold Coast as Australia's largest non-capital city economy and, perhaps more notably, second nationally behind Sydney for Economic Complexity, a measure that assesses the diversity and sophistication of an economy.

It's a result that places the Gold Coast ahead of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, highlighting the extent to which the city's economic base has broadened beyond its traditional industries.

Today, the Gold Coast supports more than 350,000 jobs, is home to over 83,000 businesses and generates $19 billion in annual exports. Manufacturing now accounts for 62 per cent of international export growth, while sectors including health, education, advanced manufacturing, technology and professional services are becoming increasingly important contributors to the local economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the report confirmed the city's evolution into one of Australia's most significant economies.

"The Gold Coast economy continues to grow at an incredible pace. This is no surprise to those of us who have watched the evolution up close," Mayor Tate said.

"As one of the most entrepreneurial, investment driven and opportunity focused economies in the country our ambition has been realised and possibilities are endless.

"The Gold Coast has built a reputation as the city that says yes. We say yes to investment, yes to opportunity and yes to people who want to build something.

"It's this mindset helping us drive major growth across health, advanced manufacturing, screen production, marine, technology and the knowledge economy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

While population growth has been one of the defining stories of the past decade, the report points to a broader economic transformation taking place.

The city's knowledge economy now contributes $7.9 billion annually and supports around 31,000 jobs, while the health and wellbeing sector contributes $5.2 billion and employs more than 42,000 people. Together, the six priority sectors identified in the report account for almost $24 billion in economic output and more than 145,000 jobs.

One of the strongest examples is the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct at Southport. The 200-hectare precinct now contains more than $5 billion worth of health, education, research and innovation infrastructure and supports over 16,000 jobs.

The report also highlights the growing role of advanced manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, defence and modular construction.

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies recently became the first Australian commercial company to attempt an orbital launch, while companies including Modscape and ModnPods are helping establish the Yatala-Stapylton corridor as one of Australia's fastest-growing advanced manufacturing hubs.

The city's entrepreneurial culture is also translating into business growth.

Since 2019/20, the number of businesses operating on the Gold Coast has increased by 22 per cent, while firms employing more than 200 people have grown by 80 per cent. The report suggests the next challenge is converting more local start-ups and medium-sized businesses into nationally significant companies.

Development activity remains another key indicator of confidence.

There are currently more than $23 billion worth of major projects underway across the Gold Coast, supported by a record 75 active cranes, a figure that now exceeds Brisbane and represents a 150 per cent increase since 2016.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=343235]

Importantly, the report notes the next phase of investment will need to extend beyond residential development.

While 93 per cent of crane activity is currently tied to housing, Invest Gold Coast argues future investment will increasingly need to focus on cultural, civic, infrastructure and industry-enabling projects that strengthen the city's long-term economic resilience.

Invest Gold Coast Chair Will Hodgman said the city was now benefiting from years of economic diversification.

"What is happening on the Gold Coast is the result of the city's economic base broadening, fuelled by industries with long-term, high-growth potential," Mr Hodgman said.

"This is no longer a secondary Australian economy, the Gold Coast is becoming a globally connected city with deeper capability across health, knowledge and creative industries, advanced manufacturing, technology and exports."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365786]

Looking ahead, the Gold Coast's population is projected to exceed one million residents by 2046.

For a city that was once largely defined by tourism and lifestyle, the latest figures suggest the Gold Coast is becoming something more significant, one of Australia's most diverse and economically sophisticated urban economies, and increasingly one that national and international investors can no longer afford to overlook.

Joel Robinson

75 cranes, $23 billion pipeline and a $55 billion economy: Inside the Gold Coast economic boom

Ron Bakir's Homecorp has sold more than 75 per cent of the apartments in its wellness-driven Florence Residences in Surfers Paradise following its first weekend release.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/florence-residences-24-monte-carlo-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">26-storey project on Monte Carlo Avenue</a>, which commenced construction earlier this year, has seen a flurry of buyers secure their slice of the Gold Coast's latest wellbeing-focused offering in one of the nation's most competitive property markets.

Since the pandemic, the Gold Coast's population has grown by more than 11 per cent, a rate approximately four times faster than Sydney's, driven largely by lifestyle changes and interstate migration. While buyer activity has moderated in some markets nationally, demand for newly built dwellings on the Gold Coast continues to gain momentum as purchasers increasingly prioritise lifestyle, amenity, wellbeing, liveability and long-term investment potential.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372743]

Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir says buyers today are looking for more than just a home.

"What we are seeing is a shift in how people define value in property," Bakir says.

"What attracts residents to new developments is a desire for more than just a residence. They are looking for a place that complements their lifestyle, supports their wellbeing and reflects the way they want to live into the future.

"Lifestyle, longevity, proactive health, wellbeing, connection and a sense of community are increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, particularly on the Gold Coast, where these factors continue to be a major drawcard."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372744]

Bakir says Homecorp is responding to this shift through an approach that places greater emphasis on design, amenity and experience working together to create places that feel considered, connected and enduring in value.

Inspired by Eastern European design, Florence Residences will comprise 120 apartments alongside a private residents-only wellness club featuring a resort-style rooftop pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a spa retreat, contemporary gymnasium, and a spacious yoga and Pilates studio.

The development will also feature a residents-only lounge with private dining facilities and a rooftop bar, premium outdoor entertaining areas, a hotel-style lobby lounge, generous bike parking, and pet-friendly amenities including a heated dog wash.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372742]

A limited number of apartments remain available, with an exclusive collection of four-bedroom sub-penthouses set to be released in the coming months.

Florence is one of the latest additions to Homecorp's expanding multi-billion-dollar property portfolio, which also includes plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/homecorp-lodges-plans-for-260-million-moroccan-bathhouse-inspired-tower-in-budds-beach">$260 million development in Budds Beach</a> tailored to the growing wellness market.

A development application has been lodged for a 27-storey, 156-residence tower at 8–10 Acacia Avenue and 25–27 Oak Avenue, featuring a residents-only Moroccan spa-inspired sanctuary.

Apartments at Florence Residences are priced from $1,249,000, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150414]

Buyers rush to Homecorp's Florence Residences as Gold Coast wellness trend gains momentum

The NSW Government has expanded its $1 billion Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program, broadening access for affordable housing providers and smaller residential developments as it seeks to accelerate housing delivery across the state.

The Minns Government says the program has already helped bring forward more than 600 homes across Sydney and regional NSW since launching in September 2025, with similar models now adopted in South Australia and Western Australia.

The latest changes, announced by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, are designed to improve access to finance for projects that have planning approval but are struggling to secure funding.

Among the key changes is an expansion of support for community housing providers. The program will now support up to 100 per cent affordable housing projects valued at up to $30 million when delivered by not-for-profit providers, while support for larger affordable housing developments will increase for projects worth up to $80 million.

The government says the changes will help accelerate the delivery of housing for low-income workers, older people, people living with disability, and those at risk of homelessness, while reducing reliance on direct grants or subsidised loans to bridge funding gaps.

The eligibility criteria for smaller residential developments have also been broadened. The previous $5 million minimum project value threshold has been removed and replaced with a requirement that projects deliver at least four homes.

Support has also increased for projects delivering fewer than 20 homes, with the guarantee now able to cover up to 75 per cent of dwellings in a development, capped at $30 million per project.

The changes are expected to particularly benefit smaller-scale and regional developments, which often face greater challenges meeting pre-sale requirements imposed by lenders.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the scheme demonstrates how government can use its balance sheet to stimulate housing supply without relying solely on taxpayer-funded grants.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee shows how this Government is using its balance sheet to reduce risk and unlock private investment, enabling new homes to move from design to construction faster," Mookhey said.

"This landmark reform allows us to deliver homes for working families at a lower cost to taxpayers, while also maintaining strong financial discipline."

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the program had already proven effective in bringing stalled projects to market.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee has already proven it can unlock stalled projects and accelerate housing delivery by giving lenders the confidence they need to back good developments," Scully said.

"These changes will allow more affordable housing and smaller developments to access support so more homes can be built faster where communities need them most."

Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the expansion would help community housing providers overcome financing barriers that often delay projects.

"We know community housing providers are ready to build more homes, too often they're held back by barriers to finance," Jackson said.

"Expanding the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee helps remove those barriers so more affordable homes can get off the ground sooner."

The announcement was welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, which has long advocated for measures aimed at improving project feasibility and access to finance.

Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson described the expansion as a practical intervention that addresses one of the most immediate constraints on housing delivery.

"This is exactly the kind of practical intervention we need right now, focused on getting projects out of the ground, not just approved," Stevenson said.

"It builds on a model the Property Council has worked closely with government to develop following calls for such a scheme ahead of last year's NSW Budget, so it's great to see it being expanded."

Stevenson said the reforms would help unlock projects that are ready to proceed but have been delayed by financing challenges. However, she noted that broader feasibility issues remain a significant barrier to increasing housing supply.

"The biggest challenge in NSW housing today is delivery. Too many projects have planning approval but are simply not financially viable to proceed under current settings," she said.

Speaking at the Property Council's NSW Housing Summit, Housing Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged that feasibility and financing pressures continue to constrain housing delivery, while reaffirming the government's commitment to work with industry on solutions.

Stevenson said the government's recognition of those challenges was encouraging ahead of next week's state budget.

"It's positive to see the government clearly recognising that feasibility pressures are now a binding constraint on supply," she said.

"With the Budget just days away, the focus must be on backing delivery, making sure projects stack up, finance can flow, and more homes can move from approval to construction."

The expanded Pre-sale Finance Guarantee forms part of the NSW Government's broader housing agenda, which also includes planning reforms, the NSW Housing Pattern Book, and a series of rezonings intended to increase housing capacity across the state.

NSW expands Pre-sale Finance Guarantee to unlock more affordable and regional housing

Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.

Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.

The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]

Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.

"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.

"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]

Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.

A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.

The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.

Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.

Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.

At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.

Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.

“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.

The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.

Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.

“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]

A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.

The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.

The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

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