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A 795 sqm oceanview home at Torquay has been listed for sale for $860,000.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-torquay-124397546" target="_blank">2 Lune Court</a>, the property features polished timber floors in the living areas.
It has vaulted and square set ceilings throughout the property.
It also has ducted gas heating and reverse cycle air conditioners.
It has four bedrooms with three bedrooms featuring built in robes while the master bedroom has a walk in robes.
The kitchen has waterfall stone bench tops, a new 900mm cooker, pantry, dishwasher and range.
<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/2017/01/22/2%20Lune%20Court-2.jpg" alt="">
Both levels feature large decks with spacious open plan living/dining openings to it.
Established and mature trees, gardens and grounds along with lawn and yard space.
It also features a DLUG plus 6x4m shed/workshop. The property is offered through Great Ocean Road Real Estate agents Geoff Bennett and Charlotte Attfield – Cole.
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Oceanview Torquay home listed for sale

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A Bondi Junction apartment shared the highest price last week across the country with an Potts Point apartment, according to CoreLogic.
The apartments fetched $4.25 million each.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-bondi+junction-124534158" target="_blank">Bondi Junction apartment</a> (above and below) is considerably larger, comprising four bedrooms, four bathrooms.
<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/2017/01/24/Bondi%20Capitol.jpg" alt="" width="426" height="267">
Set in the newly completed Capitol building on Oxford Street, the 236 sqm apartment has a balcony with views of the Sydney Harbour.
Morton agent Darren Ratcliffe secured the sale.
The Potts Point<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-apartment-nsw-potts+point-120417813" target="_blank"> sub penthouse</a> in the iconic Pomeroy building (below) also sold for $4.25 million.
It spent nearly two years on the market over four different marketing campaigns.
<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/2017/01/24/Pomeroy.jpg" alt="" width="430" height="263">
The New York style apartment has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and a large terrace.
Richardson &amp; Wrench agents Jason Boon and Geoff Cox sold the home.
It last traded for $2.25 million in 2004.
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Bondi Junction and Potts Point share last week's most expensive sales at $4.25 million: CoreLogic

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The billionaire hedge fund manager Sir Michael Hintze has acquired his first Victorian farming property.
The historic Cheviot Hills in the Western District cost more than $10 million.
Sir Michael, a BRW rich-lister with a fortune estimated at $1.3 billion, is the founder of London-headquartered $12 billion global fund manager CQS.
His MH Premium Farms now owns a portfolio of more than 20 rural properties in Australia spanning more than 70,000 hectares across the east coast.
He has spent about $80 million, starting near Goulburn in NSW then adding sugar farms in Queensland.
The latest farm purchase near Penshurst covers 1950 hectares.
It had been owned by the Hutton family since 1852.
Cheviot Hills, to be managed by Growth Farms Australia, will be used for sheep production and will give the MHPF portfolio, which spans lamb, wool cattle, broad acre cropping of cereals and oilseeds, cotton and sugar, greater climatic diversity.
It is the first Hintz purchase since last July, when MHPF bought Deltroit Station, a 2573-hectare grazing property in the Gundagai district of NSW, which will be used primarily for lamb breeding and finishing.
The sale of Cheviot Hills was negotiated by CBRE's Duncan McCulloch and James Beer, as well as Kerr &amp; Co's Robert Claffey.
Cheviot Hills, which includes a renovated four-bedroom bluestone homestead, was run by fifth-generation farmer Tim Hutton as a mixed-grazing enterprise, including Hereford cattle and Corriedale sheep.
Mr Hutton is a descendent of Scotsman David Hutton, who arrived in the Western District town of Portland in 1844 and took out a lease on land at Mount Rouse, later establishing Cheviot Hills.
The sale of Cheviot Hills follows the recent sale of blue ribbon Western District property Banongill Station, a 6880-hectare cropping and grazing estate near Skipton, to US pension fund-backed Laguna Bay Pastoral Company for more than $30 million.
Other owners in the vast Western District region include Rifa Salutary, the Australian arm of China's Zhejiang Rifa Holding Group, which bought 2420-hectare Blackwood station near Dunkeld from the Ritchie family in February 2014 for about $14 million.
MH Premium Farms (MHPF), the Australian agricultural investment group of Hintze purchased Deltroit, the Gundagai district farm July 2015.
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Michael Hintze buys Victorian farm Cheviot Hills for $10 million

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There are Airbnb properties with some odd qualities. Property Observer looks at six of them:
1. The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/7042427?guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;s=KJXy1ujm" target="_blank">Dollhouse</a> at Kingscote, South Australia is a historic cabin in the heart of town.
It features a loft bedroom with a queen bed, kitchen downstairs and lounge and other amenities.
It is available from $85 per night.
2. A one bedroom unit shaped like <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/1602856?guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;s=CFeeFIKz" target="_blank">an igloo</a> at Trinity Beach, Queensland is set around an octagonal swimming pool with Trinity Beach just a short walk away.
<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/2017/01/23/Airbnb-2.jpg" alt="">
It is available for $115 per night
3. A one bedroom home called <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/999067?guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;s=CFeeFIKz" target="_blank">the Stable</a> at Richmond, Victoria is named because a stable had been renovated to become a home.
One guest stated, "The Stables were great. Close to public transport and close enough to the city to pop in and out.
The place was adorable and exactly what it looks like in the pictures"
<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/2017/01/23/Airbnb-3.jpg" alt="">
It is available for $101 per night.
4. A <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/4647524?guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;s=CFeeFIKz" target="_blank">1920s tram</a> has been converted into a four bedroom home at Lauriston, Victoria for $340 per night.
<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/2017/01/23/Airbnb-4.jpg" alt="">
5. A small house in the shape of an <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/1483865?guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;s=CFeeFIKz" target="_blank">alpine tent</a> in an isolated area is available at Myrrhee, Victoria for $120 per night.
One guest stated, "Fantastic secluded, friendly atmosphere Views are breathtaking Glamping rocks Cant recommend enough."
<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/2017/01/23/Airbnb-5.jpg" alt="">
6. A four bedroom <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.airbnb.com.au/rooms/6565539?guests=1&amp;adults=1&amp;children=0&amp;infants=0&amp;s=8cnhUSXX" target="_blank">heritage-listed church</a> at Brisbane, Queensland is available for $290 per night.
One guest stated, "Our stay at the Old Church met and exceeded all expectations.
Such a great, historic site to accomodate us whilst enjoying our time in Brisbane."
<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/2017/01/23/Airbnb-6.jpg" alt="">
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The six oddest Airbnb homes to rent across Australia

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Broken Hill is the cheapest place to purchase a house in New South Wales, according to Investar’s latest report.
The property investment firm says the average price of a house in Broken Hill is $102,000.
This is followed by Wellington with $139,500 and Coonamble with $140,000.
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<tr>
<td valign="top" width="69">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="top" width="57">
Postcode
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
Bedrooms
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
Current median price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="69">
Broken Hill
</td>
<td valign="top" width="57">
2880
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
$102,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="69">
Wellington
</td>
<td valign="top" width="57">
2820
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
$139,500
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="69">
Coonamble
</td>
<td valign="top" width="57">
2829
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
3
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
$140,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="69">
Deniliquin
</td>
<td valign="top" width="57">
2710
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
$149,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="69">
Cowra
</td>
<td valign="top" width="57">
2794
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
$159,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="69">
Junee
</td>
<td valign="top" width="57">
2663
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
2
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
$159,000
</td>
</tr>
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A two bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-broken+hill-124282206">325 Wandoo Street</a> in Broken Hill (above) is listed for sale for $108,000 through LJ Hooker.
A two bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-broken+hill-123876202">218 Cornish Street</a> (below) is listed for sale for $107,000. It hit the market at $170,000 in late 2015.
<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/2017/01/11/218%20Cornish%20Street.jpg" alt="">
A house at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-broken+hill-122329398" target="_blank">140 Bromide Street</a> (below) sold for $107,000 having last traded for $100,000 in 2014, showing 2.9 percent annual price growth.
<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/2017/01/20/140%20Bromide%20Street.jpg" alt="">
A two bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-broken+hill-124304338" target="_blank">54 Thomas Street</a> (below) was recently sold for $130,000. Set on over 1,000 sqm, the home last sold for $37,000 in 2006.
<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/2017/01/20/54%20Thomas%20Street.jpg" alt="">
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Where $102,000 can buy you a home in NSW: Investar

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The best decision to be made about buying during 2017 will be preceded by a close study of the performance of the local market chosen to buy or invest in, according to real estate television presenter Andrew Winter.
His forecast on capital cities stresses one element that he was absolutely sure about - our love affair of real estate, love it or hate it will not change.
He warned News Ltd readers they will have success buying and selling only by "knowing all the sales in the previous six months, every listing for sale right now, what is in demand, what is not so much and for all stock both established, new, and even land.
"Know the areas facts from schooling, to crime rates to employment to infrastructure changes etc. that’s why it is impossible to cover a wide area and still truly be informed sufficiently to make the right move," he said.
Looking at the capitals, here’s what he thinks:
SYDNEY: Limited stock to fuel growth
"Sydney, I genuinely believe some growth may still continue, fuelled by limited stock in prime areas, outer areas may see growth too as buyers are forced outwards for value," he said.
"The only areas that may see more flatlining will be the locations with an increasing housing stock such as those with considerable new land releases.
"However, prices may not falter even there if that stock is perceived as affordable relative to the market. Even the inner city new unit market may hang in there, noting this is often a market within a market, so play with this housing stock very carefully."
MELBOURNE: Oversupply a concern
"Melbourne has performed outstandingly but more recently in some areas, such as prime suburbs, stock levels have increased slightly which tends to put a halt to big value hikes," he said.
"Outer areas, many of which are quite accessible to the CBD and big employment centres are and should continue to see moderate growth, affordable and attractive to owner occupiers and investors, local and interstate alike.
"This city’s big issue is an oversupply of central new unit schemes, usually high rise. If supply continues at this rate ahead of demand, or in fact more units get sold and stand empty or add to an over supplied rental stock this does not bode well for this market sector."
<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/2017/01/20/about-andrew.jpg" alt="">
PERTH and DARWIN: Good time to buy?
"Perth and Darwin have struggled somewhat during 2016, however, you could argue that the softening of those markets was a natural pattern in the property cycle after many good years," he said.
"When larger sources of employment and investment such as the resources industries struggle it is of course going to impact a local housing market.
"These two cities are critically important geographic centres, so while values may be suffering a little 2017 may just see more of the same, but it can be argued the bad times are exactly when you buy, not when you sell."
CANBERRA: Steady and modest
"As for our nation’s capital, a city that has seen very modest growth in 2016, this is a steady market anyway and I don’t believe that will change in 2017," he said.
ADELAIDE: Employment issue might affect market
"Adelaide tends to be a fairly sensible player in the market, more steady than boom and bust. Major employment concerns will continue to impact this market," he said.
"This is an affordable city so you only need some good news on infrastructure and employment and demand will increase, so it could be one to watch."
BRISBANE: Room for growth
"Brisbane and southeast Queensland generally has seen a recovery in the last few years but that market adjustment and value rises are still relatively low taken over a decade so again this is an area I believe to watch," he said.
"There is room for growth in many areas, only prime inner city suburbs have seen the larger value rises recently. For interstate and local buyers there really is well located and quite affordable housing stock."
HOBART: Tricky to predict
"Hobart, very tricky to predict. While many areas of the state are struggling, the city and close by offer a certain lifestyle attractive to many and with very affordable price tags. I believe no noticeable change for 2017 will be evident," he said.
Winter purposely omits all median prices, generic stats etc. because in his words, “I predict for 2017 the best decision will be made about buying and selling when you study the performance of the market local to you or the areas you’ve chosen to buy or invest in."
"The median prices/recent sales performance and demand can and does vary massively, not only from suburb to suburb, but literally between street to street," he concludes.
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Study the market for best price places to buy in 2017: Selling Houses Australia's Andrew Winter

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A four bedroom home at Suffolk Park has been listed for sale with $2.9 million to $3.19 million price guidance.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-suffolk+park-121567942" target="_blank">2/2 Alcorn Street</a> the Byron Bay district property has a direct beach access with the Arakwal National Park at its back door.
It is a private location due to the property being a gated estate.
There is a pool and an extensive poolside gazebo with entertaining areas.
The property is an open plan retreat style modern home with balconies on all sides of the house.
There is also an open plan kitchen with the dining and living area opening out onto timber decks.
The property is offered by Your Hot Property agent Daniel Baxter.
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Gated Suffolk Park home with beach access listed for sale

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Canberra home values increased by 0.2 percent over the final quarter of 2016 to be 9.3 percent higher over the year, according to CoreLogic’s latest report.
The property data firm says that over the past year, home values have increased at their fastest rate since they rose 10 percent over the year to September 2010.
Canberra dwelling prices ended 2016 at $595,000.
Houses sit at $660,000 and $425,000 for units.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/09/Canberra%20dwelling%20changes.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/01/09/Canberra%20dwelling%20changes.jpg" alt="">
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Canberra home values increased at fastest pace for six years in 2016: CoreLogic

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Mosman is the most expensive suburb in Sydney to currently buy a house in an active market, according to Investar’s latest report.
The property investment firm says that Mosman’s median house price increased by 28 percent last year to $4,250,000.
This is followed by Bronte with $2,950,000 and Killara with $2,850,000.
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Suburb
</td>
<td valign="top" width="55">
Postcode
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
Bedrooms
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
Current median price
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Mosman
</td>
<td valign="top" width="55">
2088
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
5
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
$4,250,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Bronte
</td>
<td valign="top" width="55">
2024
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
4
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
$2,950,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Killara
</td>
<td valign="top" width="55">
2071
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
5
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
$2,850,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Roseville
</td>
<td valign="top" width="55">
2069
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
5
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
$2,700,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Seaforth
</td>
<td valign="top" width="55">
2092
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
5
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
$2,550,000
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="106">
Turramurra
</td>
<td valign="top" width="55">
2074
</td>
<td valign="top" width="60">
5
</td>
<td valign="top" width="117">
$2,500,000
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
A five bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-mosman-122579750" target="_blank">35 Upper Almora Street</a> (above) was sold recently for $4,620,000.
Similarly a five bedroom home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-mosman-122679478" target="_blank">12 Carrington Avenue</a> (below) was sold for $4,700,000.
<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/2017/01/09/12%20Carrington%20Avenue.jpg" alt="">
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Mosman ranks as most expensive Sydney surburb median: Investar

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Housing affordability in NSW is at an all time low as most regions of NSW has a mid to high price to income ratio.
Ryde, the inner south west and Sydney's eastern suburb among the least affordable locations based on income, according to a CoreLogic study.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/18/NSW%20Table.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/01/18/NSW%20Table.jpg" alt="">
CoreLogic has produced a heatmap that pinpoints the regions with the highest price to income ratios.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2017/01/18/NSW%20Graph.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<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/2017/01/18/NSW%20Graph.jpg" alt="">
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Sydney's Ryde among the least affordable NSW housing: CoreLogic

Kew has long been regarded as one of Melbourne's premier residential suburbs. It's a location defined by its grand period homes, leafy streets and some of the city's most prestigious schools, yet it has often sat just outside the spotlight cast on neighbouring Hawthorn and Camberwell.

Increasingly, however, buyers are recognising that Kew offers much of what draws people to those suburbs, with a quieter residential setting, exceptional amenity and long-term owner-occupier appeal.

Within a few minutes' walk, residents can access Kew Junction, one of Melbourne's most established village centres. Cafés, bakeries, restaurants, supermarkets, boutique retailers and everyday services are all on the doorstep, with local favourites including Centonove, Adeney Milk Bar Cafe, and Frank &amp; Harri creating the type of walkable lifestyle that has become increasingly difficult to find in Melbourne's inner east. Beyond the immediate neighbourhood, Glenferrie Road's renowned shopping and dining precinct in Hawthorn and the retail, dining and entertainment offerings of Camberwell Junction are both just a short drive or tram ride away.

The suburb is equally well connected. Tram routes 48 and 109 provide direct access to the CBD, while High Street and Cotham Road connect residents to the wider inner east.&nbsp;Nearby access to the Eastern Freeway also places the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Melbourne Airport within easy reach, adding another layer of convenience for weekend travel.&nbsp;It's a rare combination of connectivity and tranquillity, where quiet residential streets sit just moments from some of Melbourne's most established shopping and lifestyle precincts.

For families, Kew remains one of Melbourne's most tightly held addresses. Carey Baptist Grammar School, Xavier College, Methodist Ladies' College, Trinity Grammar, Ruyton Girls' School and Genazzano FCJ College are all nearby, while the Yarra River parklands, walking trails and sporting clubs provide another layer of lifestyle appeal.

It's within this established pocket that developer Ricdanic is delivering <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/wimba-ave-kew-9-11-wimba-avenue-kew-vic-3101">Wimba Ave</a>, a boutique collection of just 13 residences across two buildings named after its location on the tree-lined Wimba Avenue,&nbsp;within one of Kew's most prestigious pockets where homes have been known to sell up to and above $8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=354809]

The residences prioritise the space that buyers are increasingly searching for but struggling to find in established suburbs. Living areas extend beyond five metres in width, ceiling heights range from three to five metres, and apartments open onto private gardens averaging around 125 sqm. Selected residences also feature balconies of approximately 60 sqm, while premium inclusions include Miele appliances, double-glazed windows, EV readiness, fully electric systems and a 7.2 NatHERS energy rating.

Architect Chris Idle says opportunities to deliver homes of this scale within established suburbs have become increasingly uncommon.

"There are very few opportunities to do these kinds of developments in leafy, established suburbs," he says. "To get this level of amenity, natural light, and architectural freedom in such a setting is extremely rare."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140755 project_image_fid=366267]

The architecture draws on Kew's established character through the use of handmade Krause bricks, while landscaping by John Patrick introduces 23 plant species, including nine native varieties, creating an environment which focuses just as much on nature as it does the building.

Construction on Wimba Ave is well underway by renowned high-end builder Sinjen, with completion expected in late 2027. Prices start from $2.22 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140755]

Joel Robinson

The enduring appeal of Kew's tree-lined streets and village lifestyle

"For me, it's the location." That was the first thing Chris pointed to when reflecting on why he and his wife Marita decided to purchase at Candela Ivanhoe, the under-construction new apartment development by Salter Brothers in the heart of the north-eastern M​elb​ourne​ suburb. ​

"We've lived here before… everything is here," Chris said.

"Our doctor is around the corner, there's dentists, pilates, everything we need, restaurants, fast food places, two train stations, Ivanhoe and Darebin, both in walking distance. You don't need anything else."

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Just 10 kilometres from Melbo​urn​e's CBD, Ivanhoe combines direct city connectivity with the amenity of an established village community. Residents have access to highly regarded schools, expansive parklands, public transport, and a thriving retail and hospitality precinct centred around Upper Heidelberg Road, all within a neighbourhood that has retained its leafy character despite its proximity to the city.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/candela-ivanhoe-40-upper-heidelberg-road-ivanhoe-vic-3079">Candela Ivanhoe</a> sits within the heart of this established landscape, positioned just moments from Ivanhoe Village and within walking distance of many of the suburb's most sought-after amenities.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=364553]

From Candela, residents can access cafés, grocers, wine bars, restaurants and essential services on foot, while Ivanhoe Station and Darebin Station provide direct connectivity across Mel​bour​ne. The development is also surrounded by some of the suburb's best-known lifestyle destinations, including Pinkie, Laurent, Enni, Docasa and Woodfire Pizza e Cucina, alongside Ivanhoe Plaza, Woolworths, pharmacies and specialty retailers.

Green space is another defining feature of the suburb. Darebin Parklands, Ivanhoe Park, Nellie Ibbot Park and the Yarra River trail network provide extensive opportunities for recreation, while Ivanhoe Golf Course and Ivanhoe Tennis Club continue to underpin the area's long-established lifestyle appeal.

The suburb's education offering further strengthens demand. Ivanhoe Grammar School, Ivanhoe Girls' Grammar School, Mary Immaculate Primary School and Ivanhoe Primary School have helped establish the area as one of Melbou​​rne's most sought-after schooling precincts, attracting families and downsizers alike who want to remain connected to the area.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=357510]

While location was the priority for Marita and Chris, the project itself also needed to meet their expectations.

"Whilst location was paramount, I was also looking at design of the environment and Candela ticked every box," Marita said.

"We're just thrilled with our choice."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=342 project_image_fid=336455]

Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/salter-brothers">Salter Brothers</a>, Candela Ivanhoe has been designed to complement its village setting, with an emphasis on generous floorplans, natural light and practical everyday living.

Residents will have access to a range of shared amenities, including a communal rooftop garden and dedicated residential lounge, complemented by a ground-floor café and lifestyle wellbeing centre, helping foster the sense of community already emerging among future owners.

That approach has resonated strongly with the market. More than 90 per cent of purchasers at Candela Ivanhoe are owner-occupiers, with buyers ranging from downsizers and second-home buyers to young families and first home buyers, creating a genuinely multi-generational community of grandparents, parents and children. It reflects a broader shift across Melbo​​urne's apartment market, where buyers are increasingly prioritising neighbourhood quality, lifestyle amenity and long-term liveability.

Currently under construction by Ironside, Candela Ivanhoe comprises 58 apartments. Candela Ivanhoe is scheduled for completion in the coming months, and residents can move in from September. One to four bedroom residences, prices from $649,000 and limited opportunities remaining.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=342]

Location and lifestyle drive demand at Candela Ivanhoe

As apartment buyers increasingly look beyond the four walls of their residence, the quality and depth of shared amenity has become a defining factor in how developments are designed and experienced, particularly in the high-rise, new apartment development space.

In Southbank, where high-density living continues to evolve, developers are placing greater emphasis on creating environments that support wellbeing, connection, and convenience as part of everyday life.

That approach sits at the heart of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aura-at-melbourne-square-7-hoff-boulevard-southbank-vic-3006">AURA</a>, the latest residential tower in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/osk-property">OSK Property</a>’s $3.5 billion Melbourne Square precinct. Rising 67 storeys above Hoff Boulevard, the 673-apartment development has been conceived around what OSK describes as a “vertical wellness ecosystem”, a layered collection of amenities that extends throughout the building rather than being confined to a single podium level.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370263]

The amenity offering begins on the seventh level within the AURA Club, a dedicated resident hub focused on health, relaxation, and daily convenience. Here, residents will have access to an indoor swimming pool, cold plunge, spa, sauna, and steam room, alongside a fully equipped gym, reformer Pilates studio, and yoga room.

The wellness facilities are complemented by a range of spaces that acknowledge the changing ways people live and work. Work-from-home lounges and co-working areas sit alongside a library, music room, games room, cinema facilities, and open-air terrace spaces, providing residents with flexible environments that can adapt throughout the day.

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Beyond the internal amenity, AURA introduces a series of Japanese-inspired gardens that form a quieter counterpoint to the tower’s social spaces.

Landscaped retreats feature curated outdoor dining, tranquil courtyard seating, fire pit, and a tea house pavilion. Rather than functioning as simple recreational areas, the gardens have been designed as places for reflection and informal gathering, drawing on principles of balance, nature, and calm that underpin the project's broader design philosophy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367810]

The social amenity continues to evolve as residents move higher through the building. Levels 49 and 50 house the Meridian Club, where a lounge bar, conservatory spaces, and private dining rooms take advantage of elevated city views. At the summit of the tower, the exclusive Cumulus Club spans Levels 66 and 67, offering additional lounges, private dining, and meditation and treatment rooms positioned above Melbourne’s skyline.

For OSK Property, the extensive amenity offering reflects a broader focus on wellbeing as a core component of apartment living rather than an added feature.

“Aura stands tall as an exemplar of holistic wellness – its focus on social, physical and mental health culminate in a building that is calming, restorative and relaxing, where residents will have their own sanctuary within the well-connected and sought-after Southbank,” says OSK Property CEO Chong Boon Woon.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=367796]

AURA’s amenity strategy extends beyond the tower itself through its integration with the wider Melbourne Square precinct.

Residents will have direct access to Kennedy Park, Southbank’s 3,745 sqm landscaped public park, alongside a full-line Woolworths supermarket, childcare centre, hospitality venues, and approximately 1,600 sqm of additional retail planned within AURA’s lower levels. Together, these elements create a highly connected residential environment where daily needs, recreation, and wellness are woven into the fabric of the community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=151921 project_image_fid=370253]

As Melbourne’s apartment market continues to mature, developments are increasingly judged by the lifestyle they provide beyond individual residences.

Through its combination of wellness facilities, landscaped retreats, social clubs, and precinct-wide amenity, AURA represents a shift toward a more comprehensive model of vertical living, one where shared spaces play as significant a role as the homes themselves.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=151921]

AURA elevates amenity living at Melbourne Square

Builder-developer Scion is the latest to target Sydney's booming Hills Showground Metro precinct, filing plans for more than 100 apartments within walking distance of the station.

Scion has lodged a concurrent rezoning and State Significant Development Application for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/27-33-middleton-avenue-castle-hill-nsw-2154">27–33 Middleton Avenue</a>, where it plans to replace four existing homes with an 11 and 14-storey mixed-use development comprising 109 apartments, six affordable housing dwellings, and a ground-floor café.

Designed by BHK Architects, the proposal includes three levels of basement parking with 174 spaces, more than 1,200 sqm of communal open space, and extensive landscaping across the 3,791 sqm site.

The development has been designed as two buildings connected by a recessed wintergarden spine, with the 14-storey building positioned to the south and the 11-storey building to the north.

<img alt="Scion" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="64dc359d-736b-43b8-87a8-70a8285cab47" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-06-25%20at%208.47.01%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=PXh.m8id_aevBPHEckPf88wQ2RQThPos" />

The apartment mix has been weighted towards owner-occupiers, with 13 one-bedroom apartments, 55 two-bedroom residences, 31 three-bedroom apartments, six three-bedroom lofts, and four four-bedroom homes. Six apartments will be dedicated as affordable housing in line with the NSW Housing SEPP.

According to the Architectural Design Report by BKH, the proposal seeks to create "a place-responsive architecture" inspired by the natural landscape surrounding Cattai Creek, while strengthening the public domain through landscaping, active frontages and a neighbourhood café.

Atlas Urban, in its Urban Design Report, says the proposal takes a different approach to increasing density around Hills Showground Station by favouring a more slender, vertically articulated built form over a conventional mid-rise outcome. The report argues this allows for greater deep soil planting, improved solar access and a better public domain outcome, while still delivering additional housing close to rapid public transport.

The site sits around 500 metres from Hills Showground Metro Station, within a precinct earmarked for significant residential intensification following the opening of the Sydney Metro Northwest line. Planning documents accompanying the application note that Greater Sydney's population has grown by more than one million people since planning for the precinct first began, reinforcing the need to accelerate housing delivery around existing transport infrastructure.

Scion is expanding its development pipeline which also includes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/chatham-west-ryde-2-6-chatham-road-west-ryde-nsw-2114">Chatham in West Ryde</a>, 62 apartments which are approaching completion. They also have a State Significant Development Application with the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority for <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/96-anzac-avenue-west-ryde-nsw-2114">145 apartments on Anzac Avenue</a>, also in West Ryde.

First look: Scion plots Castle Hill apartment development near Hills Showground Metro Station

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a>&nbsp;has unveiled its scaled-back plans for a pair of towers rising up to 49 storeys directly opposite Bella Vista Metro Station.

The builder-developer will deliver 674 apartments and a new mixed-use hub at the gateway to the station precinct.

The State Significant Development Application has been lodged under the Housing Delivery Authority pathway for the 6,979 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/9-11-mawson-avenue-bella-vista-nsw-2153">9-11 Mawson Avenue</a>, with the apartments sitting above a mixed-use podium. Initial plans were for closer to 900 apartments across two 40-storey towers.

Located around 30 metres from the Bella Vista Metro Station entrance, the development is intended to act as a catalyst for the long-planned Bella Vista Station Precinct, transforming a vacant site into a transit-oriented residential and commercial destination.

Planning documents describe the project as delivering "a high-density mixed use destination that combines housing, retail and community-serving uses in a highly accessible setting."

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 674-apartment Bella Vista towers opposite Metro station" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="21c08216-589e-490d-ad08-2d88b6fa62d9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bella%20vista%20podium.png?VersionId=3TnwjjQCNwTsmyQRaWnFrLTSAF0CJeka" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/turner-studio">Turner</a>, with landscape architecture by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/landscape-architect/arcadia-landscape-architecture">Arcadia</a>, the project comprises 674 apartments, including 102 affordable housing dwellings representing 15 per cent of the residential floor space. The housing mix spans studios, one, two and three-bedroom apartments, alongside a collection of townhouse-style residences integrated into the podium levels. The development also includes specialist disability accommodation and an elevated provision of adaptable and liveable housing.

The mixed-use podium has been designed to create an active urban centre around the Metro station, incorporating a 1,423 sqm supermarket, a 3,029 sqm gym, specialty retail spaces, a 100-place childcare centre and a publicly accessible "city room" community space. A secondary laneway, active frontages and landscaped public areas are intended to improve pedestrian connectivity through the site and strengthen links between the station precinct and surrounding neighbourhood.

In the project's design report, Turner said the proposal responds to Bella Vista's emerging role as a higher-density centre within Sydney's north-west growth corridor.

"The project transforms a strategically located site into a high-density mixed use destination that combines housing, retail and community-serving uses in a highly accessible setting," the report states.

"Active frontages, a publicly accessible city room, a secondary laneway and a mix of uses including a local supermarket, child care centre and gym create a more complete and socially useful urban environment for residents, workers and the wider community."

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group plans 674-apartment Bella Vista towers opposite Metro station" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0fde6220-82de-4f6a-9b63-d0fd8157acc9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bella%20vista%20da.png?VersionId=7hEmuSutH8plTd_RqqdmPu055F6qe554" />

Urban Property Group has been one of the busiest developers across Greater Sydney this year.

The developer is progressing around 1,000 apartments across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-urban-property-group-plans-next-major-wollongong-tower">two projects in Wollongong</a>, with several thousand more homes in the pipeline across Newcastle, Castle Hill, Little Bay and Penrith.

Staff reporter

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