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The developing Covid-19 virus has coincided with the breaking of the drought in the Mildura region and has injected much needed confidence into the dryland farming and grazing sector, according to the June Herron Todd White (HTW) rural report. 
The valuation firm looked at the influence of trade wars, pandemic outcomes and commodity prices on the rural sector, and provided an update of how rural real estate is performing across locations and industries. 
A recent discussion with a Millewa (west of Mildura) farmer reports that for the two years up to 31 December 2019 only 157mm of rain was recorded.
In the past 3 months of 2020 they have received over 160mm which has provided an optimum autumn break with the majority of crops now planted.
The long range forecasts suggesting above average rainfall for the region has also given producers the hope of a very good season, the report noted. 
Since January there has been renewed interest in Millewa land which for the past five years has pretty much remained stagnant in regard to value. 
The report notes five properties have been sold/contracted over the past 4-5 months (all to ‘outside’ purchasers) with value levels 10 to 20 per cent above previous levels achieved in the past two years.
Marketing of the 2020 table grape crop has been affected by the Covid -19 pandemic, with supply chain and logistics disruptions into most of our export markets. This ultimately resulted in reduced price levels at the back end of the harvest, and also an oversupply in our domestic market," the valuation firm said. 
The growth in recent years of direct purchase agreements between supermarkets and some larger growers has provided these growers with some greater certainty in the disposal of fruit onto the domestic scene.
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"We are aware of one significant table grape property recently being contracted for sale at levels slightly firmer than indicated by previous sales, which suggests there is long term confidence in the industry and that Covid-19 has not had any immediate effect on buyer demand," the valuation firm said. 
The citrus harvest has commenced in this region with high hopes of another good season. Early reports suggest that fruit quality and size is superior to 2019 however yields are likely to be slightly down.
 Initial early season pricing indicates firm levels of between $750 and $1000 per tonne for premium early navel varieties. The main concerns facing the industry revolve around the political tension with China, particularly if China was to ‘shut its door’ on Australian fruit, the report says. 
However, the industry is hopeful that there is sufficient demand from other countries to absorb our supply albeit at a likely reduced price.
"With a change in market direction it also brings the concern of foreign agents reneging on orders or payments," the valuation firm said. 
The report notes other concerns include sourcing a suitable labour force (heavily dependent on overseas backpackers and islanders) and the lack of information on whether there will be enough available containers and ships to actually move the fruit.
The weaker AUD remains a competitive advantage for exporters and the removal of tariffs on a large proportion of Australian goods is also viewed positively for the Agri sector. 
However, the sector is not without its concerns with changing global macroeconomic conditions, including the recent Chinese tariff reviews on barley and the banning of products from certain meatworks is causing concern for future export arrangements.
In addition the Australian Wool Exchange Eastern Market Indicator index has fallen almost 25 per cent since January 2020 due mainly to the Coronavirus shutdowns of most export countries.
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A current listing is a 8 hectare vineyard in Merbein priced at $410,000 - $440,000.
The property at Block 97 Sixth Street (pictured above) features underline sprinkler irrigation and electric motor with fertigation. 
It has been planted to 4.2 hectare Sunmuscat, 2.4 hectare Sultana and 0.8 hectare Sugra. 
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A 1,082 hectare cropping property in Meringue was sold for $965,675 in March. 
The 584 Ruchel Road property (pictured above) include a 1950s homestead, separate bungalow, elevated red loam soils and open front machinery shed.
The property has a history of growing wheat, peas, lentils and livestock.  
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Mildura rural market faced with changing global macroeconomic conditions: HTW rural 

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Banks will provide more breathing space to those hit by COVID-19, with as many as 779,000 lenders to get a further four months repayment deferrals.
The paused accounts amount to $236 billion. 
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The 10-month total deferral of repayments for households and businesses unable to restructure their debt or restart paying was facilitated by the federal government and the banking regulator.
The Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has welcomed the extension. 
"If somebody's lost their job and they've got a residential mortgage or indeed if their business has been closed and they've got a commercial loan, then they would be cases where the customer would need to talk to their bank, and I understand it that the bank is going to be very supportive of their customers," he said.
He said the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority would continue to ease regulations on the banks, to encourage them to support customers.
The new measure follows the Reserve Bank of Australia commentary that while the economic hit from the pandemic was not as severe as initially feared, the domestic economy was experiencing the biggest contraction since the 1930s. 
“Since March, an unprecedented 800,000 people have lost their jobs, with many others retaining their job only because of government and other support programs,” the RBA statement said.
The initial repayment pause period was for up to six months as the pandemic took hold in March.
Some have restarted repayments already.
About 20 per cent of CBA customers on loan deferral arrangements have made repayments.
ANZ CEO Shayne Elliott said customers who had not yet asked for a six-month deferral could still do so.
The Australian Banking Association advised customers who could start repaying at the end of the initial six month would be required to. 
It noted the other options during the second phase of assistance included extending the loan term, converting to interest-only payments for a period, consolidating debt or opting for the additional four-month deferral.
RateCity.com.au research shows a mortgage holder who extends their deferral could end up paying $9,769 extra over the remainder of their loan, if they pause their home loan for 10-months and don’t make extra repayments to catch up. This assumes the person is five years into a 30-year loan with a balance of $400,000.
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800,000 deferred home loan recipients get extra 4 month relief

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Auction volumes were down week on week across the combined capital cities, with a total of 1,185 homes scheduled for auction. The lower activity which we have historically noted over school holiday periods, returned a preliminary clearance rate of 65.1%. 
Across Australia’s two largest auction markets, the lower activity across both cities saw the clearance rate improve.
There were 439 Melbourne homes taken to auction returning a preliminary clearance rate of 64.3%, which was higher than last week’s preliminary figure of 62.7% across 645 auctions, with a final result of 61%.
In Sydney, 563 homes were auctioned this week returning a preliminary clearance rate of 68.1%, higher than last week’s 66.9% preliminary result, when a higher number of auctions were held (644). The final clearance rate last week came in at 62.9%.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/6/CL%20JULY%207%20CC.JPG" alt="">
Over the past 12 months across the capital city markets every city has seen a decrease in total listings with Melbourne faring the best and Perth as well as Canberra being hit the hardest.
Across new listings however, both Melbourne and Sydney have seen large increases around 20% with the only other market seeing an increase being Perth.
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New listings soar across Melbourne and Sydney: CoreLogic

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A Riverview Place home in Perth's Mosman Park built right into the cliffside has been listed.
Riverview Place is a small cul-de-sac off well known Saunders Street, otherwise known as ‘Millionaire’s Row’, in Perth’s affluent western suburbs.
Built into the cliff face at 6 Riverview Place, this property boasts uninterrupted front-row views over the sparkling Swan River.
<img src="https://f.datasrvr.com/f1/220/17369/Cliff3.JPG" width="640" data-imagetype="External">
Ray White Cottesloe | Mosman Park Director Jody Fewster said the home with four over-sized bedrooms and built into the cliff overlooking the Swan River was nothing short of a “spectacular family home”.
“There is a discrete sophistication to this home in one of Perth’s most exclusive locations,” Ms Fewster said.
“The expansive floor to ceiling windows of the entry gallery immediately draws your eye to the river views, creating a relaxed feeling of being suspended between the sky and river,” she said.
“This feeling will continue with you throughout the remaining three levels, especially on the incredible living level which embodies nearly the entire third floor.”
Owner Ron Packer said the view plus the layout of the home - which was carved out of the cliff - was its standout feature.
“We often joke that even the cars have a great view,” Mr Packer said of the generous four car garage on the top floor.
The house is for sale via an expressions of interest campaign closing on July 31, if not sold prior.
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Cliff side Perth home on Millionaires Row listed

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Experts say now may not be the best time to buy property, according to Finder, Australia’s most visited comparison site.  In this month’s <a href="https://finder.us9.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cc5e9bce699fa1d71a67cf499&amp;id=9834d9a8b8&amp;e=f2176dbcf8" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-auth="NotApplicable">Finder RBA Cash Rate Survey™</a> – the largest of its kind in Australia – 43 experts and economists weighed in on future cash rate moves and other issues related to the state of the Australian economy.  While all experts surveyed expect a cash rate hold in July (43/43), just one third of respondents (15, 35%) said that now is a good time to buy property.  Another third (13, 30%) believe that buyers should sit tight and wait for the property market to settle, while the others were unsure (15, 35%).
Cooke said recent reports have indicated that 1 in 10 apartment buyers who purchased off the plan are choosing to default on their loans.  ”This is the most shocking report I have seen since the onset of COVID-19. It is a huge decision to default, as it means losing your deposit." “There are two main things that would put a buyer in this position: either they’ve lost their job and can no longer afford the loan, or the property has dropped in value so far that the banks are not willing to issue funds." “Both are terrible positions to be in, and paint a truly dreary picture for our economic future as it’s only likely to get worse from here,” Cooke said. 
A Finder consumer survey from June of more than 1,000 Australians found that consumers feel more bullish than experts. More than half of (59%) believe now is a good time to buy property – a sentiment that hasn’t been shared by so many Aussies since months before the pandemic hit. Economic Sentiment Tracker  Finder’s Economic Sentiment Tracker gauges experts’ confidence in five key indicators: housing affordability, employment, wage growth, cost of living and household debt.  This month, positive sentiment about household debt improved slightly, while wage growth positivity stayed at 0% for the fourth consecutive month. Positive sentiment for housing affordability dropped from an all-time high of 59% in June 2020 back to 44% this month.  <img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/GeqW5Pt2FDt5S5U6sPZwWpFyl3lqjmh0PxRbyPGU-LwmEwpgazPtCLZByxYdTIqrHMqEiqUXufPUWPc88DXsSr8r5J0HtKT9UwMScjY2AWy_hmXd285DE2uAEElyZytHwOjcaMo_" data-imagetype="External">
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1 in 10 off the plan apartment buyers choose to default: Finder.com.au

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Experts say now may not be the best time to buy property, according to comparison site Finder.
In this month’s Finder RBA Cash Rate Survey™, while all experts surveyed expect a cash rate hold in July (43/43), just one third of respondents (15, 35%) said that now is a good time to buy property.
Another third (13, 30%) believe that buyers should sit tight and wait for the property market to settle, while the others were unsure (15, 35%).
Clearance rates – which measure the percentage of homes that sell at auction – have fallen in Sydney and Melbourne from 77% in February to 63% and 61% respectively.
Experts predict that clearance rates for both Sydney and Melbourne should sit at around 61% by the end of September.
Graham Cooke, insights manager at Finder, said the housing market is in a very unsettled position, with reduced stock levels and lower clearance rates.
“Increasingly, auctions are topping-out at final bids well below reserve."
“With more job uncertainty on the horizon, it’s difficult to see any improvement in the near future,” Cooke said.
Experts were asked to make predictions about house and unit property values in the eight capital cities.
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Apartments are due to be harder hit than houses, with 7-8% price drops predicted by the end of September against just under 5% for houses.
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Experts warn against buying property with units to be hit hardest: Finder.com.au

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Winners of the 2020 New South Wales Architecture Awards have been announced, with a number of architect collaborations recognised amongst the top projects.
In celebration of the state’s best architecture, a total of 41 awards, comprising named awards and architecture awards, and 32 commendations, were presented across 13 categories.
Held on the evening of Friday July 3, 2020 the NSW Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects live streamed the awards presentation, allowing the public to freely join what is normally a members-only event.
The evening’s most recognised project was Phoenix Central Park (pictured top) by Durbach Block Jaggers with John Wardle Architects, taking out the NSW Architecture Medallion for its celebration of the union between architecture and artistic fields.
The gallery and performance space, located in Chippendale, was also awarded the Sir Arthur G. Stephenson Award for Commercial Architecture and John Verge Award for Interior Architecture.
Peter Poulet, chair of juries for this year’s NSW Architecture Awards, says Phoenix Central Park is an outstanding project showing the best of collaborative outcomes and is also recognised for its strong use of material and form.
“Having been given an open invitation to design something exceptional, the architects have joined forces to seamlessly intersect design with the visual and performing arts. The single yet multifaceted and dynamic project creates an immersive experience for those inside while being a striking architectural marker on the outside,” says Poulet.
The Lord Mayor’s Prize went to the CBD and South East Light Rail by the huge team of Grimshaw with ASPECT Studios in collaboration with the City of Sydney, on behalf of Transport for NSW, supported by Randwick City Council. The highly collaborative project is recognised as one of the most significant transformations in the history of the city centre.
Another exemplary project was Verve Residences (below), a multi-residential Newcastle development by CKDS Architecture with Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects. 
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The project was awarded the Aaron Bolot Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing, as well as the Blacket Prize for design excellence in a regional context.
According to Carolyn Mitchell, jury chair for the Residential Architecture – Multiple Housing category, Verve Residences sets a new standard for urban architecture in Newcastle.
“Verve Residences is paving the way for more socially and environmentally aware residential design in Newcastle. There are certainly many lessons to be taken from how the architects have gone about creating meaningful engagement between residents, as well as the community it sits within,” says Mitchell.
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The prestigious Enduring Architecture Award this year has gone to Richard Leplastrier for his Palm Garden House project (below). Built in 1974, the design of the unique home in Sydney’s Northern Beaches is centred on its relationship to the landscape.
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“Palm Beach House has truly endured for the past 45 years and continues to sit harmoniously alongside nature. This simply expressed yet incredibly outstanding home is a hidden sanctuary that combines nature with domesticity and is something we should continue to look upon for inspiration and tranquillity,” says NSW Chapter President Kathlyn Loseby.
Marrickville Library (below) by BVN received multiple awards, including the prestigious NSW Premier’s Prize, the Milo Dunphy Award for Sustainable Architecture, and an award for Public Architecture. The project represents a vision for the future of public architecture, as a facilitator of community engagement, a positive contributor to and representation of its contextual fabric, and a celebration of its historic and natural environment.
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A new category in this year’s program was the People’s Choice Awards For Life in 2020, which was created by the NSW Chapter in response to the ways COVID-19 has altered our relationship to housing, workplaces and the public domain. This marked the first time the public was able to have its say.
The winners of the three categories, as voted by the public, are:
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<li>Isolation Oasis: Arkadia by DKO Architecture with Breathe Architecture and Oculus</li>
<li>We Are In This Together: Marrickville Library by BVN</li>
<li>Post-iso Party: Bankwest Stadium by Populous</li>
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“We have been delighted with the number of entries which shows the public’s appetite for good design amongst the places we visit and inhabit,” adds Loseby.
Projects that received a named award or architecture award will now progress to compete in the National Architecture Awards program. The shortlist will be announced by the Australian Institute of Architects in the coming months.
Photo above: Phoenix Central Park/ Martin Mischkulnig. 
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Architect collaborations top 2020 New South Wales Architecture Awards

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Sydney and Melbourne’s auction results maintained their holding pattern at the weekend.
Sydney recorded a preliminary clearance rate of 65.9 per cent on Saturday, after 470 auctions and 310 reported results. There were 69 properties withdrawn from auction.
Melbourne's preliminary clearance rate was 62.2 per cent after 373 auctions and 235 reported results. There were 40 homes withdrawn from auction – including properties that had been listed in the renewed coronavirus hot spots.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/6/CL%20JULY%207.JPG" alt="">
But the historic Ascot Vale home, Bolinda sold posted auction for $3.1 million.
It was Melbourne's top weekend result, pushing a $2,275,000 Brighton East sale into second place.
Bolinda had been listed initially with expectations between $3.7 million and $3.95 million in April.
But this expectation was reduced in May to $3.3 million to $3.5 million.
The historic Ascot Vale manor has had just three owners since it was built 136 years ago.
The four-bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-ascot+vale-133328186" target="_blank">43 Kent Street</a> last traded 57 years ago.
The Italian Renaissance style house is in need of some renovation.
It was owned for nearly six decades after being built for the McClelland family in 1884.
The family set up an artists’ group and later built the McClelland Sculpture Park and Gallery in Langwarrin.
Sydney's top sale was $4.63 million in Mosman. Six of the 14 registered parties bid for the four-bedroom house at 12 Windward Avenue that was for sale for the first time in six decades. 
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CoreLogic reported volumes were down week on week across the combined capital cities, with a total of 1,185 homes scheduled for auction. 
The lower activity which we have historically noted over school holiday periods, returned a preliminary clearance rate of 65 percent. 
This was higher than last week preliminary figure of 64.5% across a higher 1,485 auctions, which later revised down to 60.6% at final collection. 
Looking at results from the first week of July last year, a lower 953 homes were taken to auction with a success rate of 64% according to final figures.
Across Australia’s two largest auction markets, the lower activity across both cities saw the clearance rate improve.
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Across the smaller cities, Canberra continues to outperform in terms of success rate across the capital city markets with an 81.6% preliminary clearance rate this week. 
However this was down slightly on the final clearance rate last week with 84.4% of homes successful at auction across Canberra. 
Perth, where only a small proportion of properties are auctioned, continues to return one of the lowest clearance rates across the capital cities with only 22% of auctions clearing this week.
Ray White Group booked a preliminary clearance rate of 61 per cent on a week when the leading auction house had a reported auction market share of 31 per cent.
The average registered bidder number sat at four.
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$3.1 million weekend sale in lockdown suburb Ascot Vale

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A new architect designed home in Toorak hit the market with a price guide of $10.95 million.
The home has since sold.
The four bedroom, four bathroom house is situated at<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-toorak-133346574" target="_blank"> 3 Bellaire Court</a>. 
Set on a 585 sqm block, the home comes with formal dining room, gourmet kitchen, refined study, sitting room, alfresco terrace and home theatre. 
It also features wine display room with bar, 6-car garage, heated pool, lift and smart home automation. 
The home is located within close proximity to High Street's boutiques and restaurants, Torrak Station, Orrong Park and schools. 
Justin Long and Fiona Counsel of Marshall White Stonnington have the listing. 
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Toorak trophy home with heated pool listed for $11 million has sold

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There are 1,115 capital city auctions being tracked by CoreLogic this week, down from 1,485 auctions last week which can be in part be attributed to school holidays.
However volumes remained higher than this time last year when just 953 homes were taken to auction. 
In Melbourne, 417 auctions are scheduled across the city this week, down from 645 auctions last week, although higher than volumes from the same week last year (388).
There are 538 Sydney homes scheduled for auction this week, down from 644 last week according to final figures, and higher than the 359 held one year ago.
Across the smaller markets, scheduled volumes are set to fall week on week across Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Tasmania, while a higher volume of auctions are scheduled in Canberra this week\
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/2/Auction%20CL%20July%202.JPG" alt="">
Despite school holidays, Ray White said their auction numbers are holding steady with 175 homes going under the hammer on Saturday.
Particularly busy is Ray White Surry Hills | Alexandria | Glebe | Erskineville where 8 auctions are set to take place. 
Associate Director Matthew Carvalho from the inner Sydney group is auctioning two of those eight with both being called by Ray White NSW CEO Jason Andrew.
First up will be Terrace 9, 269 Trafalgar St, Annandale, (pictured in title) which Mr Carvalho said has attracted both upsizers and downsizers from around Sydney.
“Feedback from buyers has been good and they’re particularly liking the size of the house and that it’s got a double garage plus an extra car space which is almost unheard of in the inner west,” Mr Carvalho said.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2020/7/2/Auction%202%20July%202.JPG" alt="">
Later in the day will be 134 Catherine St, Leichhardt (pictured above) which is currently getting interest from first and second home buyers. Mr Carvalho said space is a big factor for these buyers and the three bedroom Leichhardt home ticks that box.
“It’s a good layout on a great size plot of land. The buyers are predominantly a little bit younger - couples or families with one child,” he said.
“They’re coming out of apartments and upsizing for more space and to get into more of a community which Leichhardt offers.”
Despite recent uncertainty, Mr Carvalho also said he is finding that good properties are still in high demand.
“Supply is still so low particularly for free standing homes but we’re finding when they are on the market, prices and demand are quite strong and will continue to be so until inventory begins to spike,” he said.
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School holidays impact otherwise strong auction weekend

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Joel Robinson

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

The long-planned transformation of Brisbane's historic Shafston Estate has taken another major step, with Capella Hotel Group announced as the luxury hospitality partner behind what will become Brisbane's first branded residences.

The project, to be known as Capella Residences Brisbane, is being delivered by Verso Projects at the landmark Kangaroo Point riverfront estate, with completion targeted for 2029.

The announcement follows a series of planning changes to the project over recent years. The site was originally approved in 2023 for a 15-level, 37-apartment development designed by Rothelowman for Burgundy Group before Verso Projects took over the 10,070 sqm riverfront holding and lodged revised plans with Kerry Hill Architects to increase the development to a 25-level tower with 51 apartments.

The latest announcement confirms Capella Hotel Group will bring its branded residential offering to the project, marking just the second Capella Residences development globally after Seoul, and the group's first branded residential project in Australia.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/23-castlebar-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Castlebar Street development</a> will centre around the restoration of the heritage-listed Shafston House, one of Brisbane's oldest residences, originally constructed in 1851 by Reverend Robert Creyke as a single-storey cottage known as Ravenscott.

<img alt="Capella" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b9f4ce5-638f-4d6b-8082-3ca7e4b75fca" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-09%20at%207.20.41%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=f7aeqsW_DzOJI4FymWb3lD8NptSfsP7q" />

Capella said the project aligns with its focus on heritage-led developments, with the Brisbane estate combining the restored historic residence with a new luxury apartment tower and hospitality-inspired resident amenities.

Residents will have access to the Capella Living Room, a concierge-led communal space inspired by the group's luxury hotels, alongside landscaped gardens, six swimming pools, wellness and recreation facilities.

The broader estate will also include two riverfront homes, a six-berth private marina, porte cochère arrival experience, secure basement parking and a new section of public riverwalk along the Brisbane River frontage.

The heritage Postal Depot Building will also be retained and repurposed as a guest house, in line with the revised development plans.

The project represents another evolution for the site, which Kerry Hill Architects previously described as a rare opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's most significant heritage estates while creating a new benchmark for apartment living.

"The Shafston Estate provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's finest heritage precincts and to reinstate residential use as a unique site perched on the edge of Kangaroo Point," Kerry Hill Architects said in its Urban Context Report accompanying the planning submission.

"The project will celebrate excellence in sub-tropical residential design, setting a new benchmark for vertical living in Brisbane."

Verso Projects, which now has an $8.5 billion development pipeline spanning more than 6,000 dwellings across apartments, townhouses, retail and commercial projects, said the partnership with Capella would elevate the development beyond a traditional residential project.

"We feel honoured to be restoring Shafston Estate to its former glory, elevating it to new heights of luxury and excellence underpinned by Capella's distinctive service ethos and design philosophy, and making it a standout landmark in Brisbane," Verso Projects CEO Steve Laffey said.

"By partnering with Capella, globally recognised for its refined approach to luxury hospitality and deep respect for cultural and historical context, we will elevate this project beyond a residential offering into a world-class destination."

Capella Hotel Group President Roland Fasel said Brisbane's emergence as a global city made it the right location for the company's Australian residential debut.

"Brisbane is a city on the cusp of something remarkable, and Capella Residences is our commitment to being part of that story," Fasel said.

"The Capella residential experience is more than luxury. It is about a sense of belonging to a place with deep meaning."

Private appointments have now opened for the project, with a display suite expected to open in late 2026 ahead of the planned 2029 completion.

Capella to launch Brisbane's first branded residences at Shafston House, Kangaroo Point

Lewis Land's latest apartment release within its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan is targeting one of the Gold Coast's fastest-growing buyer groups, with almost a third of apartments at Solis priced below $1 million.

The seven-storey building at Biggera Waters will comprise 91 apartments, including 24 one-bedroom residences starting from $778,000, a price point Lewis Land says is aimed squarely at first home buyers struggling to enter the Gold Coast market.

<img alt="Harbour Shires" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e7486e37-22f6-4c92-b212-9b0622070b8f" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-08%20at%209.09.34%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=W8MJwJUCf6HkIyl_EVSksnd.QI6MZryY" />

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lewis-land-group">Lewis Land</a> Head of Development Michael Long said the developer deliberately allocated a significant proportion of the project to more affordable apartment types.

"First home buyers have been priced out of many parts of the Gold Coast, and we saw a clear opportunity to address this and play our part in a longer-term housing solution," Long said.

"That's why 24 of the 91 apartments being delivered at Solis have been designed and priced for the city's next generation of homeowners, quality one-bedroom apartments, half of which include an additional multipurpose room to maximise space and flexibility.

"This approach places 30 per cent of apartments in Solis under $1 million, and with close proximity to Harbour Town's future light rail extension connecting residents to the city's major employment and knowledge hubs, it's a win for buyers looking to secure their first property."

<img alt="Sores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="550526d3-73ba-4710-9739-c5f4294a30ef" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-08%20at%209.09.29%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=cQQdXHt9wS0UXwZEm5Py5bH_3kAmzyhu" />

Designed by BDA Architecture, Solis will deliver a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with residences ranging up to 232 sqm. Apartments feature generous balconies and contemporary finishes, while residents will have access to Harbour Shores' lagoon pool, clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga studio and sauna.

The focus on first home buyers resonated with purchaser Holly Humphreys, who said she and her boyfriend spent more than a year searching for their first property before shifting their attention from houses to apartments.

"We fell in love with the first house we bid on and got our hopes up, but after repeated knockbacks we learned not to get too attached," Humphreys said.

"We offered at the high end of price guides, but sales kept going even higher. That's where we really struggled and we needed to re-evaluate our budget and our expectations. Standalone houses were off the table, and we pivoted to apartments and townhouses."

Humphreys said it was encouraging to see developers recognising the growing demand from first home buyers.

"There's a growing number of young buyers looking to enter the market earlier because they understand that getting in now can make a real difference as prices continue to rise," she said.

"It's fantastic to see a developer recognise this and then actively take measures to deliver an apartment with us in mind."

Solis is the first development planned within the second stage of the Harbour Shores masterplan, with early works expected to commence in September 2026.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land targets first home buyers at latest Harbour Shores release, Solis

Luxury apartment developer Abadeen has recorded $19.25 million in apartment sales across two of its Lower North Shore developments in the lead-up to the end of the financial year, headlined by the sale of a $6.75 million penthouse at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/koyo-crows-nest-5-rodborough-avenue-crows-nest-nsw-2065">KOYO in Crows Nest.</a>

The transactions also included the sale of a newly completed three-bedroom apartment at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/park-residences-cremorne-2-sutherland-street-cremorne-nsw-2090">Park Residences in Cremorne</a> for $6.35 million, with the residence selling shortly after the project's first public inspections following completion.

The sales come as completed, owner-occupier-focused apartments continue to attract strong demand across Sydney's Lower North Shore, particularly from buyers looking for certainty and immediate occupancy.

The penthouse at KOYO spans 491 sqm across a single level and was designed by architect Koichi Takada. The development is one of Abadeen's flagship boutique projects in Crows Nest.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108800 project_image_fid=370093]

Abadeen Executive Chairman and Founder Justin Brown said buyer activity lifted noticeably in the lead-up to the end of the financial year.

"We saw a clear increase in enquiry levels, inspection numbers and buyer engagement across our completed projects leading into the end of the financial year," Brown said.

"Buyers have become far more decisive over the past six months. The combination of improving confidence, limited supply and the ability to physically inspect completed residences is creating strong competition for premium apartments in the best locations."

Brown says the&nbsp;response to Park Residences following completion has been particularly strong.

"Buyers want certainty and are responding positively to the opportunity to walk through a finished product, inspect the quality firsthand and move in immediately," Brown suggested.

"Projects such as Park Residences and KOYO demonstrate that when the product is exceptional and the location is irreplaceable, buyers are prepared to act quickly."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114246 project_image_fid=370116]

Abadeen CEO Joe Tack said quality continued to differentiate projects in the current market.

"Today's buyers are incredibly discerning," Tack said.

"They are seeking larger floorplans, premium finishes, walkability, lifestyle amenity and confidence in the developer delivering the project. Well-designed boutique developments continue to outperform because they offer something genuinely difficult to replace.

"The enquiry we are seeing across our completed and recently completed Lower North Shore portfolio is very encouraging, and we expect this momentum to continue into spring."

The sales follow increased enquiry across Abadeen's Lower North Shore portfolio which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/northcote-collective-naremburn-2-northcote-street-naremburn-nsw-2065">Northcote Collective in Naremburn</a> which also completed recently.

KOYO penthouse headlines Abadeen's $19.25 million EOFY sales flurry

The City of Sydney has approved plans for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/billbergia">Billbergia Group</a> and Metrics Credit Partners’ $3.5 billion Castlereagh Place project in the heart of the Sydney CBD

The towers will be among the tallest in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/sydney-nsw-2000">Sydney</a>'s CBD, with more floors than any other residential tower in the city.&nbsp;

The 6,000 sqm site was acquired by the joint venture partners in 2024. It is the largest amalgamated land parcel in the Sydney CBD and comprises eight individual sites fronting Castlereagh, Pitt and Liverpool Streets.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/castlereagh-place-sydney-324-348-pitt-street-sydney-nsw-2000">Castlereagh Place</a> will transform an underutilised city block into a landmark mixed-use destination, anchored by two 82-storey towers comprising 607 luxury residences above an 8-level podium housing a 209-room luxury hotel. A 1,000 square metre civic park on ground level features a curated mix of food, beverage and retail.

The plans have been refined over the past year to rebalance the residential and hotel offering, and reconfigure the retail footprint to create a stronger, more dynamic dining experience.

A three-level flagship building on the prominent corner of Pitt and Liverpool Streets will be the gateway to the Castlereagh Place lifestyle precinct. Set to become a Sydney icon, the building is capable of housing multiple hospitality venues.

“Castlereagh Place is designed to be the City's next great urban oasis - an energetic mixed-use precinct that pulses with life, day and night,"&nbsp;said Joseph Kinsella, Group Director of Billbergia.

"It will bring the vibrancy of places like Barangaroo and Darling Quarter into a more accessible, central destination at the very heart of Sydney."

Kinsella said the project will build on&nbsp;Sydney’s growing laneway culture with the City’s largest network of new activated lanes - an expanded, next-generation take on precincts like Angel Place, Palings Lane and Ash Street in Wynyard.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134477 project_image_fid=374401]

Castlereagh Place has been designed by architects <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fjc-studio">fjcstudio</a> in collaboration with Trias Studio, Aileen Sage and Polly Harbison Design, joint winners of an international design competition in 2018.&nbsp;

Signature design elements from the original scheme remain unchanged, while the public domain has been significantly enhanced, delivering 60 per cent more open-to-sky space.

Pedestrian access will also be enhanced through new laneways linking Pitt, Liverpool and Castlereagh Streets, drawing people into a new civic park with outdoor seating, landscaping and integrated public art.

With activated laneways supported by strong hospitality offerings, Castlereagh Place is tipped to become a vibrant new dining destination in the heart of Sydney’s CBD.

It marks the largest undertaking to date for the Billbergia and Metrics Credit Partners partnership. Together they are developing other underutilised Sydney sites into mixed-use precincts, including the $2.2 billion Concord Central and the $1.3 billion Chatswood Grand Residences.

Metrics Managing Partner and Group CEO Andrew Lockhart said Castlereagh Place is a landmark project that will redefine Sydney’s skyline.

"As the tallest residential high-rise development, the revitalised site will offer panoramic views across the CBD and surrounds. We are excited to partner with Billbergia to reinvigorate an underutilised site and create a sophisticated and contemporary mixed-use offering situated in the heart of Sydney.”

Total apartments within the towers have increased to 607 dwellings, with a focus on larger floorplans. Aligned to growing market demand, Castlereagh Place now comprises 299 three-plus-bedroom apartments, 198 two-bedroom units and 110 one-bedroom configurations.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134477 project_image_fid=374402]

Resident amenities will include an exclusive residents club containing a gym, rooftop pool, dining rooms, co-working spaces, library, golf simulator, games room, cinema room, and access to an exclusive concierge service. There will be around 500 basement car spaces below the towers.

The development will also include a state-of-the-art wellness centre, set to feature a bathhouse with magnesium pools, hot/cold plunge pools and premium amenities.

&nbsp;

According to fjcstudio, the towers will feature distinctive yet elegant architectural design reflecting Sydney’s geometry and urban character, with a network of through-site links and intimate public spaces activating the streetscape.

"Castlereagh Place is a city-making project of significant scale and ambition," said Richard Francis-Jones, Design Director at fjcstudio.

"It will create a rich urban complex of public open spaces, landscaped gardens, and vibrant laneways. Defining these new public spaces and the important streetscape of Castlereagh Street is a sequence of fine-grained, diverse retail and hotel architecture designed in collaboration with Aileen Sage, Polly Harbison Design and Trias.

“Rising above the tree-lined, human-scale streetscape are two slender residential towers that will transform the city skyline and look towards the Harbour, Hyde Park, and the Royal Botanic Garden.”

Demolition and early construction works have commenced onsite at Castlereagh Place.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134477]

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