<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/broadbeach-qld-4218">Broadbeach</a> offers plenty of reasons to live vertically, but moving from a substantial family home into an apartment can expose the compromises of high-density living. Privacy, room for guests and usable living space tend to matter more when an apartment is intended as a permanent home rather than an occasional coastal base.

A typical residential floor at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-eveleigh-broadbeach-7-9-surf-parade-broadbeach-qld-4218">The Eveleigh</a>, on Surf Parade,&nbsp;contains just four apartments. The 94-residence development by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/hirsch-faigen">Hirsch &amp; Faigen</a> is predominantly made up of expansive three-bedroom homes, with a limited collection of half-floor penthouses above.

Across the apartment floors, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a> has used the relatively limited number of residences to give each home greater access to natural light and outlook. Living spaces extend towards full-height glazing, while a series of bay windows frame selected views across the Pacific Ocean, city and hinterland rather than treating the building edge as a continuous wall of glass.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360965]

“The apartment floors deliver a collection of homes that embrace controlled outlook via a series of bay windows deliberately framing moments of view,” Rothelowman Director Kim Lowman said.

From outside, those projecting forms contribute to the tower’s faceted profile. Strong horizontal and vertical elements establish its proportions, while the changing position of the sun alters the light, shadow and reflection across the façade throughout the day.

The same attention moves inside the apartments, where the material palette combines warm timber, natural stone, metallic detailing and softer curved forms. Kitchens sit within the main living zone, with stone island benches, integrated joinery and European appliances, before the living areas extend towards the glazing and the outlook.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360981]

Three genuine bedrooms provide room to accommodate family and guests, while two secure car spaces and storage address some of the practical considerations that can become more noticeable when moving from a larger home. Feedback from the display suite has centred on the warmth and restraint of the interiors, with buyers commenting that the residences feel like homes rather than conventional coastal apartments.

A limited collection of half-floor penthouses occupies the upper levels, increasing the scale of the living spaces and adding private balconies and elevated finishes. From this position, the outlook extends between the ocean and hinterland.

Outside the private residences, The Eveleigh separates its shared spaces between the podium and rooftop. The podium is centred on wellness, with subtropical landscaping surrounding a swimming pool and pool terrace, yoga garden, private gymnasium, sauna and hot and cold plunge facilities. Landscaped retreats and pavilions provide additional places to sit away from the main recreation areas.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360966]

Higher in the building, a rooftop pavilion and private dining suite sit alongside resident lounge, barbecue and outdoor dining areas, opening towards panoramic views across the ocean, city and hinterland.

“Buyers are no longer just looking for an apartment, but a lifestyle where they can relax, reset, and enjoy a balanced way of living,” Hirsch &amp; Faigen Director of Sales Matt George said.

Interest to date has come from established owner-occupiers and interstate lifestyle purchasers, including buyers planning a future move to the Gold Coast. Many are coming from larger homes and want to reduce ongoing maintenance without giving up space for family and guests, privacy, two car spaces or the ability to entertain at home.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360969]

Much of that daily life can also take place beyond the building without requiring a drive. Kurrawa Beach and Pratten Park are an easy walk from Surf Parade, while Pacific Fair, Oracle Boulevard, The Oasis, restaurants, cafés, entertainment and public transport are also within walking distance.

The Eveleigh is Hirsch &amp; Faigen's fourth Gold Coast development since entering the market in 2021, following The Hemingway at Palm Beach, The Emerson at Kirra and Yves at Mermaid Beach. Each of the preceding projects sold out before completion.

“Broadbeach had been on our radar throughout our time operating on the Gold Coast,” the developer said. “Following our projects in Palm Beach, Kirra and Mermaid Beach, Broadbeach represented the natural next step for the business.”

The Surf Parade site brought together proximity to the beach, protected coastal outlooks and walkability to dining, shopping and recreation. Hirsch &amp; Faigen also identified the street as an emerging premium residential address, with enough separation from Broadbeach's busier destinations to retain a quieter environment at home.

The Eveleigh is now under construction by Maxcon, with completion forecast for mid-2028. Three-bedroom residences are currently available from $2.87 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=149670]

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

A long-stalled Campbelltown development site is back in play, with new plans for 139 apartments set to supersede a mixed-use scheme approved almost a decade ago but never built.

The new proposal for 28 Cordeaux Street would deliver 116 market and 23 affordable apartments in a part 14-storey building, bringing a substantial new project into a Campbelltown market where new apartment supply remains limited.

Plans have been filed over the 3,092 sqm corner site at Moore-Oxley Street, around 600 metres from Campbelltown Railway Station and the city-centre retail core.

The site already carries a mixed-use residential approval dating to 2016. Doroch Architects has now been engaged on a larger replacement scheme, which is progressing as a State Significant Development Application following a Housing Delivery Authority determination in August 2025.

The apartment mix comprises 39 one-bedroom, 72 two-bedroom and 28 three-bedroom residences. Two-bedroom apartments make up just over half of the project, while three-bedroom homes account for 20 per cent.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="136dd5b9-3791-4da6-9e31-76f533f5b4de" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da2.png?VersionId=LgOSy9nwf5u.MGswBBwaGGxuX8QpHSl_" />

Of the 139 apartments, 23 will be delivered as affordable housing under the in-fill affordable housing provisions of the Housing SEPP. The affordable component represents 15 per cent of the residential gross floor area and will be managed by a registered Community Housing Provider.

Doroch has sought to break the scale of the building into two distinct elements, with a masonry podium of around four storeys establishing the street edge before the residential tower steps back above.

The corner position has shaped that approach. Cordeaux Street faces toward the commercial and civic centre, while Moore-Oxley Street leads into the lower-scale residential neighbourhood to the south, and the design verification report describes the site as "bridging the commercial core to the north and established residential areas to the south."

The podium will be expressed predominantly in face brick, while the upper levels shift to brushed and grooved concrete cladding with darker metal detailing. Recessed sections, deep balcony edges and landscaping break down the upper form, with an approximately 11.8-metre setback to the northern boundary addressing the adjoining St Peters Anglican School.

<img alt="First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c8b3d2d3-c561-4bfc-a5d9-a68c0c10dac1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Campbelltown%20da1.png?VersionId=AeAEyJU02Gk2k5noUj2StziCvdQ7fW4B" />

Campbelltown has been starved of new residential developments in the last decade.

The only other notable development set to come to market this year is ALAND's Queen Square, a mixed-use precinct on over two hectares that will comprise apartments above a vibrant ground-level retail and hospitality dining precinct.

First look: New 139-apartment plans revive long-stalled Campbelltown city centre site

First Look: Sherlock Construction pitches apartments for low-rise Deception Bay

Queensland builder-developer MAYD has revealed the first look at its major North Kirra beachfront development, lodging amended plans that reduce the number of apartments and increase the proportion of larger residences.

The project is planned across a substantial 4,742 sqm amalgamated site spanning seven lots at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/2-6-pacific-parade-bilinga-qld-4225">2-6 Pacific Parade</a> and 27-33 Golden Four Drive in Bilin​ga, directly opposite Nor​th Kirra Beach.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/mayd-group">MAYD</a> secured the site for $32.5 million in 2025, in what was one of the Gold Coast's largest property transactions of the year.

The development will be delivered across two stages, with the first stage carrying an estimated gross realisation value of around $360 million.

The latest amendments seek to reduce the overall apartment count and shift the project further toward the owner-occupier market, with larger residences designed for buyers wanting considerably more space than traditionally offered in a beachfront apartment.

The residential mix will include townhomes, oversized two-bedroom apartments, substantial three-bedroom residences and four-bedroom homes.

MAYD has appointed Cera Stribley to lead the architecture and interiors, with the Melbourne-based design practice drawing on the beachfront setting through a series of ocean-facing terraces and heavily landscaped balconies.

Strong horizontal forms and curved balconies will define the exterior, with subtropical landscaping integrated throughout the building to soften the built form and increase the connection between the residences and the beachfront.

The project will also include an extensive collection of resident wellness and lifestyle facilities, continuing the broader shift across the Gold Coast's luxury apartment market toward larger homes supported by resort-style amenity.

<img alt="MAYD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1bcbb05-e659-4b47-8bd4-1e595315e2ad" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%202.05.03%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=jj0XEud1X1DuLt7_KyElhjMdZGOXmLHP" />

MAYD Founder Todd Mould said North Kirra was increasingly appealing to buyers attracted to the more established, lower-density character of the southern Gold Coast.

"North Kirra presents one of the most compelling luxury residential opportunities currently emerging in Australia, combining absolute beachfront with the character and authenticity that buyers are increasingly seeking, and the same sense of tight-knit community that defined Burleigh and Currumbin perhaps 10 or 15 years ago," Mould said.

"With Gold Coast Airport on its doorstep, it also offers a level of accessibility that broadens its appeal across almost every market demographic."

The project comes as the southern Gold Coast continues to attract an increasing share of high-end apartment development and buyer activity.

Kirra in particular has emerged as one of the region's more tightly held beachfront markets, with its relatively low-density character, established surf and hospitality scene and proximity to Gold Coast Airport differentiating it from the higher-density markets further north.

Mould said those characteristics had informed the approach MAYD and Cera Stribley had taken to the project.

"We've worked closely with Cera Stribley to create a vision that is deeply connected to its surroundings," he said.

"Inspired by the coastline itself, the architecture has been shaped around space, privacy and resort-style living, creating a collection of homes that reflects the next generation of luxury on the southern Gold Coast."

MOTIV Managing Director Carly Cottam, who has been appointed to market the project, said buyer attention had continued to move south along the Gold Coast.

"Purchasers who may once have defaulted to Broadbeach, Main Beach or Surfers Paradise are increasingly recognising the value of a genuine beachfront location that offers lower density, strong amenity and a more established sense of community," Cottam said.

"Kirra has a powerful combination of growing demand and genuine scarcity. Beachfront supply is inherently constrained, the area remains relatively low density, and buyers are increasingly placing a premium on locations that feel established, uncrowded and authentic rather than heavily developed."

Cottam said the proximity to Gold Coast Airport was also proving increasingly important for interstate and second-home buyers.

"Being minutes from Gold Coast Airport makes it particularly compelling for interstate buyers, frequent travellers and second-home purchasers who can access an authentic coastal lifestyle almost immediately after stepping off a flight."

The acquisition takes MAYD's active development portfolio to more than $500 million, with the North Kirra project representing one of its largest undertakings to date.

MAYD is targeting an early 2027 launch.

First look at MAYD's North Kirra mixed-use precinct

<main data-perf-region="main">
Castle Hill, the longtime hub of the Hills District, has been one of the major beneficiaries of Sydney's Metro expansion, with improved connectivity helping drive continued population growth, development and buyer demand across the Hills District.

But despite that growth, the suburb has seen relatively few major new apartment projects brought to market over the past 18 months.

Hills District developer Reve Group is looking to fill that gap with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nova-r-ve-castle-hill-2-garthowen-crescent-castle-hill-nsw-2154">Nova Rêve</a>, a major new mixed-use precinct on the corner of Garthowen Crescent and Old Castle Hill Road, a short walk from Castle Hill Metro Station and Castle Towers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377679]

The project will comprise three residential towers alongside a hotel, restaurants, cafes and a skybar, more than 1,600 sqm of ground-floor retail and almost an acre of landscaped gardens.

It represents the largest project undertaken by Reve Group, the development arm of the Kassis family, which has been building across the Hills District for more than 30 years through Kassis Homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377675]

Nova Rêve also represents a significant step up from the family's first apartment development, Grand Rêve, which was delivered nearby on Garthowen Crescent.

Grand Rêve introduced larger, house-like apartment layouts and premium inclusions including Wolf and Sub-Zero appliances to the Castle Hill market.

Nova Rêve takes that approach to a precinct scale, combining the residential component with hospitality, retail and substantial public and resident landscaping.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377685]

Reve Group Managing Director Sam Kassis said the project reflected the family's three decades of building in the Hills, which has evolved from trophy homes on quarter-acre blocks to larger-scale apartment development.

"Grand Rêve was our first apartment project here and it showed us what this pocket of Castle Hill could be. Nova Rêve is the refinement of that idea: not just apartments, but a place the whole suburb can use," Kassis said.

A key part of that approach is the hotel, which has been designed to operate as an amenity for the wider Castle Hill community rather than solely hotel guests.

It will include restaurants, cafes, skybars and all-day dining, alongside conference and event facilities catering to business functions, community groups and private events.

At ground level, more than 1,600 sqm of shops and cafes will open onto the surrounding streets and landscaped areas.

Almost an acre of gardens designed by Land and Form Studios will run through the precinct, incorporating pathways, seating, barbecue areas and children's play spaces.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=152737 project_image_fid=377680]

Reve Group's Romio Georges said creating an active ground plane had been central to the planning of Nova Rêve.

"There are gardens with pathways, barbecues, seating and play areas, shops and cafes opening onto the street, and a hotel with restaurants and a skybar that anyone in Castle Hill can walk into," Georges said.

The project's elevated position on one of Sydney's highest ridgelines will also provide apartments with outlooks toward the Sydney skyline, surrounding parkland and the Blue Mountains.

More than 80 per cent of the apartments will occupy corner positions, with Turner responsible for both the architecture and interiors.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

Sydney’s property market is known for high prices, competitive bidding, and mounting pressure on first home buyers. But change is on the horizon.

From late 2025, eligible first home buyers in New South Wales will have access to a new federal government initiative aimed at addressing affordability: the Help to Buy Scheme.&nbsp;

<h2>What is the Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

The program introduces a shared equity model intended to reduce the upfront cost of entering the property market, particularly in high-demand urban areas such as Sydney.

The scheme operates under a shared ownership structure in which the federal government takes an equity stake of up to 40 per cent for new homes, or 30 per cent for existing dwellings. This arrangement allows eligible buyers to significantly reduce their loan size and avoid the added cost of Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI).

Under this model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required. The government’s contribution is not a loan but a co-ownership stake in the property. As such, there is no interest or rent charged on its portion.

Because the government’s equity combined with the buyer’s deposit typically meets or exceeds the 20 per cent threshold, LMI does not apply. The remaining balance, generally between 60 and 70 per cent of the property’s value, is financed through a standard home loan with a participating lender.

The government's equity in the property remains in place until the buyer chooses to repay it voluntarily or until the property is sold. Buyers can buy back the government’s share over time, in increments of at least five per cent, depending on their financial situation.

There is no fixed repayment timeline, but the amount to be repaid will be based on the property's market value at the time of repayment, not the original purchase price.

<h2>How do you qualify for the&nbsp;Help to Buy Scheme?</h2>

To qualify for the Help to Buy Scheme, applicants must meet the following conditions:

<ul>
	<li>Be an Australian citizen at least 18 years of age.</li>
	<li>Be a first-home buyer who does not currently own property.</li>
	<li>Intend to live in the property as their primary residence.</li>
	<li>Earn less than $100,000 per year for individuals, or $160,000 for couples.</li>
	<li>Purchase a property within the regional price caps, currently $950,000 in Sydney, though this is expected to rise to approximately $1.3 million ahead of the program’s launch.</li>
</ul>

While the Help to Buy Scheme does not solve affordability challenges across the board, it does offer a more accessible pathway for a defined segment of the market, particularly younger buyers with moderate incomes who have been priced out of traditional lending routes.

The scheme is expected to commence in NSW in late 2025, as part of a national rollout.

Under the new model, purchasers can enter the property market with as little as a two per cent deposit, well below the traditional 10 to 20 per cent usually required

Help to Buy Scheme: What first home buyers in NSW need to know

The First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) is a government initiative designed to help eligible first-time home buyers by offering financial assistance towards the purchase or construction of a new home.

While the FHOG is a nationwide program, it is administered separately by each state and territory, meaning the eligibility criteria, grant amounts, and property requirements can vary depending on your location. This means that the amount available and the conditions attached to the grant will differ, so it is important to check the specific guidelines for your state or territory.

It’s important to note that the FHOG is just one of several incentives available to first home buyers. In most states and territories, the grant is not linked to stamp duty exemptions or concessions, with the exception of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). The FHOG is typically a one-off payment, reducing the overall cost of purchasing or building a new home before any stamp duty concessions are applied.

Below, we provide a breakdown of the First Home Owner Grants available across Australia, outlining the specific details for each state and territory.

<h2>New South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $600,000. For land purchases and owner-builders, the threshold extends to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Provides full stamp duty exemption for homes valued up to $800,000, with concessions available for properties up to $1 million.

<h2>Victoria South Wales First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides a $10,000 grant for first-home buyers purchasing or building new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Benefits: Offers full stamp duty exemption for properties up to $600,000, with concessions available up to $750,000.

<h2>Queensland First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers $30,000 for contracts signed between 20 November 2023 and 30 June 2025. The FHOG applies to new homes valued up to $750,000.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Provides additional concessions for properties valued up to $800,000.

<h2>Western Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

&nbsp;

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes valued up to $750,000 in the southern regions and up to $1 million in the northern regions.

Stamp Duty Concessions: Available for homes valued up to $600,000 for transactions entered into on or after 9 May 2024.

<h2>Australian Capital Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Replaced by the Home Buyer Concession Scheme, offering full stamp duty concessions for eligible buyers.

<h2>South Australia First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Provides up to $15,000 for new homes, including houses, apartments, and townhouses. As of 6 June 2024, there is no property value cap for eligibility.

Stamp Duty Relief: Available for new homes and vacant land purchases.

<h2>Tasmania First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: Offers a $10,000 grant for new homes and off the plan purchases.

Stamp Duty Exemption: Between 18 February 2024 and 30 June 2026, first home buyers of established homes valued up to $750,000 receive a full exemption on property transfer duty.

<h2>Northern Territory First Home Owner Grant</h2>

First Home Owner Grant: The Northern Territory provides a $10,000 grant for new homes only. Additional government grants and concessions are available for first home buyers.

Stamp Duty Exemption: The only stamp duty exemption available to property buyers is the House and Land Package Exemption (HLPE).

Eligibility criteria and application processes differ across states. Prospective buyers should refer to their respective state revenue offices for full details on grant availability, conditions, and additional concessions.

Every First Home Owner Grant for new property by state

In the ever-evolving landscape of sustainable architecture and environmentally conscious design, systems and ratings in place can help determine the energy efficiency of residential buildings in Australia.

Australia has multiple building rating systems that evaluate energy efficiency and sustainability in existing and new building designs.

Some systems assess individual building components, while others provide an overall rating for the entire structure.

A rating system ensures that homes are comfortable and energy-efficient, whether you are buying, renovating, or building.

NatHERS (Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme) is a common way for new homes to meet energy efficiency requirements.

As new developments continue to shape the urban environment, understanding NatHERS ratings becomes essential for developers and homeowners. This article delves into the concept of NatHERS ratings, their significance, and how they contribute to creating energy-efficient homes.

<h2>What is NatHERS?</h2>

NatHERS is a national initiative implemented by the Australian government to promote energy efficiency in residential buildings. The scheme aims to provide a standardised method for assessing the thermal performance of homes, considering factors such as insulation, orientation, ventilation, and building materials.&nbsp;

NatHERS ratings are the most common way new homes meet the National Construction Code's (NCC's) minimum energy efficiency requirements.&nbsp;

NatHERS assessments provide thermal and whole-home ratings for new homes, townhouses, and apartments.

The rating helps evaluate the energy performance of buildings, guides homeowners and developers to make informed decisions about the energy efficiency of their properties, and encourages the construction of more sustainable, comfortable, and cost-effective homes.

<h2>How NatHERS Ratings Work</h2>

NatHERS ratings are determined through four accredited software tools (AccuRate, BERS Pro, FirstRate5, HERO) using a calculation engine CSIRO developed to predict building temperature based on various factors.

The tools can model complex effects of building mass, insulation, window size, and other elements.

The outcome is a star rating that reflects the building's overall thermal efficiency, indicating how well it can maintain a comfortable indoor temperature without excessive reliance on heating or cooling systems.

The star rating scale ranges from 0 to 10, with a 6-star rating being the minimum requirement for compliance with the National Construction Code (NCC).&nbsp;

Achieving a higher star rating demonstrates a commitment to energy efficiency and sustainability, as the building is better equipped to minimise its environmental impact and reduce long-term energy costs.

Anyone can use NatHERS tools, but accredited assessors can provide certified ratings and professional advice.

<h2>Benefits of Higher NatHERS Ratings</h2>

Energy Efficiency: Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings are more energy-efficient, requiring less heating and cooling energy. This reduces the structure's carbon footprint and lowers occupants' energy bills.

Cost Savings: Homes with higher NatHERS ratings are generally more energy-efficient, resulting in reduced energy consumption for heating and cooling. This translates to lower energy bills for homeowners, making sustainable living environmentally friendly and economically viable in the long run.

Environmental Impact: Lower energy consumption directly translates to a reduced environmental impact. Buildings with higher NatHERS ratings contribute to the overall goal of mitigating climate change by lowering greenhouse gas emissions associated with heating and cooling systems.

Improved Comfort: Buildings with high NatHERS ratings offer better thermal comfort to occupants. Proper insulation, well-designed ventilation, and optimal orientation maintain a consistent and comfortable indoor temperature, providing occupants with a more enjoyable and healthier space.

Market Value and Desirability: Higher NatHERS ratings can enhance the market value of a property. As energy efficiency becomes a more significant consideration for homebuyers, a well-rated building may attract a premium price and stand out in the real estate market.

Compliance with Building Codes: NatHERS ratings are a vital component of the National Construction Code (NCC), and compliance with these ratings is often a mandatory requirement for new developments. Local councils and planning authorities may set minimum energy efficiency standards that must be met to obtain development approval.

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) is a crucial initiative shaping the future of energy-efficient, resilient, and cost-effective homes. With its recent upgrades, NatHERS has evolved into a world-leading tool for the building sector, supporting the global commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Staff Writer

What is a NatHERS rating in new off the plan apartment developments?

Mixed-use developments have gained significant popularity across Australia in recent years due to their unique blend of residential, commercial, and recreational spaces.

Unlike traditional single-purpose developments, mixed-use projects offer a harmonious integration of various functions within a single locale.

Residential units seamlessly coexist with commercial establishments, retail outlets, dining venues, entertainment hubs, and recreational facilities, with the combination not only enhances convenience but also fosters a vibrant lifestyle and a sense of community.

<h3>Convenience and accessibility</h3>

Mixed-use developments are designed with convenience in mind. They often integrate residential units with commercial spaces, retail outlets, restaurants, and recreational facilities, creating a self-contained community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=114215 project_image_fid=204874]

The proximity allows residents to enjoy the convenience of having essential amenities and services within walking distance. Whether it's grabbing a cup of coffee, going grocery shopping, or accessing healthcare services, everything is conveniently located, saving residents time and effort.

<h3>Vibrant lifestyle and community</h3>

One of the major advantages of mixed-use developments is the vibrant lifestyle they offer. With a diverse range of amenities and communal spaces, residents have ample opportunities to interact, socialise, and build a sense of community.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107714 project_image_fid=214122]

The presence of parks, community centres, and shared spaces fosters a lively atmosphere, encouraging residents to engage in various activities and events. The vibrant lifestyle within these developments creates a unique sense of belonging and camaraderie among the residents.

<h3>Potential for higher rental yields and property value appreciation</h3>

Mixed-use developments tend to attract a broad range of tenants and buyers due to their versatile nature. This high demand can result in higher rental yields for investors and potentially lead to property value appreciation over time.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=139989 project_image_fid=212887]

The integration of commercial and retail spaces attracts businesses, which can provide a stable rental income stream. Additionally, the popularity of mixed-use developments often drives up property values, making them a potentially lucrative investment in the long term.

<h3>Enhanced security and maintenance</h3>

Mixed-use developments typically have comprehensive security measures in place. With controlled access points, CCTV surveillance, and professional security staff, residents can enjoy enhanced safety and peace of mind.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108019 project_image_fid=212658]

Additionally, these developments often have dedicated maintenance teams responsible for the upkeep of common areas, landscaping, and infrastructure. This ensures that the overall appearance and functionality of the development are well-maintained, creating a pleasant living environment for residents.

<h3>Live-work-play balance</h3>

One of the key attractions of mixed-use developments is the ability to achieve a desirable live-work-play balance. The integration of residential and commercial spaces allows residents to live closer to their workplaces, reducing commuting time and improving work-life balance.

The proximity to various amenities and recreational facilities encourages an active and healthy lifestyle. Residents can easily access fitness centres, parks, restaurants, and entertainment options, all within the same development, leading to a more fulfilling and convenient way of life.

alisonwarters@gmail.com

The top five reasons to buy in a mixed-use development

When buying a property, everyone needs to be aware of the additional costs that come as part of the buying process.

Often the largest outlay, after the deposit which goes to the bank, is stamp duty.

<h2 style="line-height: 1.38;">What is Stamp Duty?</h2>

Stamp duty is an extra tax to pay the government when you buy land, a property, and other certain assets.

It happens when the legal ownership is transferred. It can also be known as property transfer duty or transfer duty.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="415" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C32BWkB5--c" title="YouTube video player" width="660"></iframe>

<h2>Who pays Stamp Duty?</h2>

In some circumstances, you may get an exemption. For some states, you won’t have to pay for stamp duty if you are a first home buyer or a pensioner for houses under a particular price. There are also stamp duty concessions, where you may be entitled to a discount.

<h2>How much does Stamp Duty cost?</h2>

Each state has different rules which affect how much you need to pay. These rules can affect the rate you pay, and the timeframe you will need to pay in. Before you buy land or a property, make sure you check the up-to-date information for your state’s stamp duty.

You can use a free stamp duty calculator online to see approximately how much you’ll need to pay. Find out if you’re eligible for an exemption by enquiring on a project via Urban!

Overall, the stamp duty you need to pay will depend on:

<ul>
	<li aria-level="1">How much your land/property is worth</li>
	<li aria-level="1">Where your land/property is located</li>
	<li aria-level="1">What type of land/property it is</li>
</ul>

Want to find out more? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@UrbanAustralia?utm_source=YouTube&amp;utm_medium=Video&amp;utm_campaign=Subscribe&amp;utm_id=Subscribe">Subscribe to our YouTube channel</a> for more property videos.

Ellen Walker

Off-the-plan property explained: What is stamp duty?

<html><body>
CBRE has launched a new agribusiness division after the recruitment of Shaun Hendy, Tim McKinnon and William Barton.
They will lead the new division as joint directors, supported by three assistant valuers.
CBRE chief Tom Southern said the appointments were a significant development for the firm’s valuations and advisory services business line.
The team will offer national support on forestry, grazing and cropping, viticulture and wineries, dairy, horticulture, food and fibre processing, aquaculture, broad hectare irrigation, water entitlements and mining tenements.
 
 
 
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

CBRE launches agribusiness division

<html><body>
Michael Issakidis’ business partners say they were completely unaware of the $63 million in tax evasion and money laundering claims against him until their homes and businesses were raided by the Australian Federal Police last week.
The 67-year-old’s business partner at health group NeuMedix, Professor Max Reynolds, and Griffith University Professor Cordia Chu are among those picking up the pieces after the AFP charged Issakidis with tax fraud and conspiring to deal in <a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/legal/049369-fast-cars-tax-schemes-and-tech-patents-businessman-charged-over-alleged-63-million-tax-fraud">the proceeds of crime</a>.
More than $40 million of Issakidis’ luxury assets were seized under Commonwealth proceeds of crime legislation including a number of Rolls Royces, a Lamborghini, an Aston Martin, a Mercedes, a BMW, a number of yachts and “prime real estate” in Sydney and on the Gold Coast.
Reynolds is a director and owner of NeuMedix alongside Issakidis and Anthony Dickson who is also wanted for questioning by the police.
However, Reynolds told SmartCompany he was unaware of the claims made against Issakidis and Reynolds until the AFP turned up to raid his house and business.
“About 30 police arrived and raided two of the staff’s homes, our main office in Brisbane, then my home and the factories where we manufacture,” says Reynolds.
“I was informed about the circumstances and allegations and I must admit I was somewhat gobsmacked as I knew nothing about his personal business and the other businesses he works in beyond his role as a director of Neumedix Global.
“The Federal police told me when they came in I was not included in their list of suspects, as we were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
“The scale of it just beggars my mind. I still can’t get my head around exactly what they did or how they laundered the money.”
Reynolds says the raid was a traumatic experience with his wife in particular receiving a “big shock” when police turned up at their home.
The AFP and Australian Tax Office claim Issakidis used a complex unit trust structure to over inflate the prices of Australian patents once transferred offshore, claiming corresponding depreciation expenses to amass $63 million.
Reynolds says he does not know whether any NeuMedix patents were involved in the alleged scam.
“Because of his legal background [Issakidis] put together all the paper work needed to set the company up to market the product as we got to the point of production.
“I am a scientist not a businessman and our function is to do clinical trials.
“[Griffith] University was assisting us to make the right contacts and Michael’s role was to look after the administration of the legal requirements of the company.”
Reynolds says he does not believe the allegations against Issakidis will jeopardise the scientific work NeuMedix is undertaking.
“No, not at all as they are two separate entities completely, we are currently doing stage three trials into Dengue fever in Indonesia and as far as I am concerned it will not interfere with our work.
“We have nothing to hide and I was equally shocked as everyone else by this whole thing … I am still recovering from it.
“It was something I never expected would happen and I had no knowledge of the alleged illegal activity.”
Through Reynolds, Issakidis’ influence has also spread to the Australasia Botanical Medicine for Population Health Program at Griffith University.
The program pursues and promote international collaborations in research and development of herbal medicine for global health and is currently focused on the application of melaleuca, a herbal product that researchers believe may be able to treat rare diseases.
Professor Cordia Chu heads the team at Griffith University and she says was “totally shocked” to hear of the allegations against Issakidis.
Chu was quick to distance herself and the university from Issakidis claiming that her involvement with him was limited to that of a “matchmaker”.
“I have only had a couple of casual meetings with Michael and I have nothing to do with him”, says Chu.
“Our university’s only involvement was to introduce [NeuMedix] to an Indonesian university which is researching the impact of melaleuca on Dengue fever.
“So we have no particular dealing with Michael, we just introduced them for this public health issue.”
Chu says she does not know if any of Griffith University’s research is at risk as a result of the alleged transfer of Australian patents offshore and the over inflation of the patents.
“I hope it won’t because the university is looking for a cure for something that is really a tremendous challenge for the world and large populations are at risk,” says Chu.
“I like to stay clear from the commercial side of any venture.”
This article originally appeared on <a target="_blank" href="https://www.smartcompany.com.au/index.php">SmartCompany</a>.
 
 
 
</body></html>

cwaters-YrtBR88nBe

Developer Michael Issakidis' business partners “gobsmacked” at $63 million tax racket claim

<html><body>
The Kahlbetzer family's company, Twynam Agricultural, which had sold more than half its agricultural portfolio in NSW in recent years, has its sights on Africa. Its new farming project is a venture involving the development of 50,000 hectares for cotton, maize, sorghum, soybean and other crops in Khartoum.
Twynam has registered a new company called Twynam Agriculture Africa and has advertised for a project manager.
Its emerging agricultural interests will centre on the Blue Nile state of Khartoum, in Sudan, Africa, but the group has also signalled expanding its cropping operations in Asia.
Over the past three years, the Kahlbetzer family's company has sold more than $200 million in land in addition to the $303 million in Murray Darling water licences sold to the government. It most recent sale was the 35,600-hectare <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/rural/kahlbetzer-familys-twynam-group-sells-collymongle-in-northern-nsw/2012012953156" target="_blank">Collymongle at Collarenebri in northern NSW.</a>
It has yet to sell all its intended land holdings on the Murrumbidgee River.
The Australian Financial Review speculated the venture could be incentivised by the receipt of funding from the World Bank, which is seeking to boost global food supplies.
United States President Barack Obama has pledged to invest $US3.5?billion to spur agricultural development around the world, including support for?the World Bank’s global agriculture and food security program.
While Federal Minister for Agriculture Joe Ludwig said the Kahlbetzer family's sale of rural holdings was not an indication of where agriculture in Australia was headed, the high-profile farming Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan told the AFR he was sad to see the retreat of such a great family from agriculture in NSW.
"I am sad [to see the Kahlbetzers withdraw], but I have to say that everyone is entitled to their own destiny," Heffernan says, noting concerns as to the future of NSW cotton production.
NSW Deputy Premier and Nationals leader Andrew Stoner says he is disappointed by the move.
“It is always distressing to hear of?families divesting themselves of agricultural interests,” he says. “It is understandable that the proposal in the draft basin plan to remove from productive use over a short time frame a huge quantity of water – 2,750 gigalitres – would create uncertainty about the future of productive agriculture in the basin.”
It’s not the first time the group has ventured overseas, as it went into Argentina in 1982.The Twynam Agricultural Group was founded in the early 1970s by John Dieter Kahlbetzer and is now mostly run by his two sons, Johnny and Markus.
The Twynam agricultural property portfolios have a wide geographical base expanding over 117,000 hectares in Australia, seeking a sector spread to provide security against adverse weather conditions and commodity market fluctuations.
Its website says it employs around 56 people in operational roles in regional NSW, along with 15 staff at its Sydney head office.
<a href="https://www.agnomad.com/job/21/project-manager-agriculture-sudan-at-twynam-group/" target="_blank">Applications for the project manager job </a> close May 6.
No doubt the new applicant will need to become quickly familiar with the recent threat of Egypt to withdraw from the Nile Basin Initiative (NBI) if the upstream countries are to insist on signing a framework cooperation agreement and the establishment of the new High Commission for Nile Waters without the consent and participation of Egypt and Sudan.
Egypt stressed that in the case of the establishment of this commission, or conclusion of an agreement that does not include the two countries, it would bring to an end <a href="https://sudanow.info/en/en-essays.php?ID=486&amp;show=sc%20projects" target="_blank">the joint dam construction</a> to be implemented within the NBI, according to a report by SudanNow Magazine.
The Nile River is the longest in the world, and the Nile Basin covers 3.36 million square kilometres, making it slightly larger than India.
There are 10 riparian countries — Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, and Eritrea.
Sudan contains 63% of the basin, while Ethiopia has only 12% and Egypt 10%.
 
 
</body></html>

Kahlbetzer family's Twynam Agricultural out of the NSW Murray-Darling and into the African Nile

<html><body>
The penthouse in the Gold Coast beachfront Jade complex has been finally offloaded by the mortgagee at somewhere between $6.5 million and $7 million, compared with its boomtime ask of $20 million plus.
It was almost a done deal too back in late 2006, with developers the Bezzina Group claiming they'd be setting an record Australian apartment price after a $20 million-plus sale price was agreed for the penthouse.
Developer Mick Bezzina, whose developments stretched over the past two decades far from his Sutherland Shire stamping ground, suggested terms were agreed with an intending overseas buyer.
But the paperwork never got to finalisation, and now six years on it’s been sold following its recent Ray White auction.
The late 2006 touted sale of the three-level unit would have snared the record from the $16.85 million off-the-plan sale in the Juniper development Soul, on the Gold Coast, set in October 2006.
The Soul buyer, said to be a company director in the construction services industry who bought the home just 24 hours after visiting the display centre,<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/gold-coast-soul-penthouse-on-market-as-it-nears-overdue-completion/2012042354395" target="_blank"> is seeking offers through Ray White, with construction nearing its conclusion</a>.
In Sydney Aussie founder John Symond's Walsh Bay sub-penthouse had held the 2006 record when it sold for $16.1 million in September 2006.
The Walsh Bay apartment has 520 square metres of living space plus a 140-square-metre balcony and two boat berths. The Walsh Bay sale broke the $15 million record set by broadcaster John Laws for an apartment at Woolloomooloo Wharf in 2004.
“People see value at prices now,” the Ray White agent Andrew Bell said, commenting on the Jade penthouse sale last week.
Title Tattle recalls the party that accompanied Bezzina's onsite launch in December 2006 in the then near-completed $96 million complex.
The Bezzina Group paid $17.5 million for the site four years earlier and had Bezzina's in-house architect Vic Lake worked with Brisbane architect Scott Peabody from Planit Architecture on the design of the 15-level, 16-pool complex set on the Northcliffe Terrace, close to Q1.
It comes with a distinctive Ticu Gold blade on its roadside exterior with the photovoltaic cells embedded in the blade envisaged as providing a power source for the common property.
The party went late into the night as Bezzina had truly capitalised on the then bullish Gold Coast market with all but two – priced at $5.9 million – of the 12 apartments reportedly sold pre-completion, with prices reportedly starting from about $5 million plus each.
It had also sold both the ground-floor beach bungalows for about $12 million each.
The world No. 4 ranked golfer Adam Scott was the known only off-the-plan buyer. He paid $4.4 million off the plan in 2004, and during his many attempts to sell over the past few years he has dropped his indicative asking price to below $3 million for the garden apartment.
The only time a price has gone up when Toni Lewis, the widow of Bernard, the Lewis Land Corp founder, spent $5.5 million on her apartment in 2008. The unit fetched $4.7 million off the plan in 2004 when sold by the Bezzina Group.
Late last year Toni Lewis's daughter Marnie picked up a unit at $2.5 million, which was the cheapest sale by the mortgagee, who took control in November 2008 with some six off-the-plan settlements never taking place.
All 16 units now sold and the gross proceeds total about $70 million.
The Jade penthouse sold through Ray White Paradise Waters agents Michael Willems and Robert Graham.
 
</body></html>

Jade penthouse on the Gold Coast sold by mortgagee for a third of dashed boomtime hopes

<html><body>
Austria-bound film producer John Weiley and wife Susanne have listed Seven Mile, their 3.5-hectare Broken Head property set in coastal scrub on the outskirts of Byron Bay.
The four-bedroom Neville Quarry-designed house comes with an infinity pool, which overlooks the ocean. Graham Dunn of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-byron+bay-107372107">Byron Bay Property Sales </a>and Nicolette van Wijngaarden at Unique Estates are selling the property with offers due May 23, having had the property sit on their websites since last year.
<img src="/images/stories/7mile1.jpg">
Half the land is rainforest and the other is pony paddocks. Title Tattle recalls when the filmmaking sea-changer sold his Paddington terrace, Jersey House in 2004 to move into their then new house which comes with a mix of tallowwood walls, brushbox floorboards and rosewood framed sliding glass doors in the main house. There's also a beach shack and studio in its grounds.
With $100 million box office takings, Weiley's first IMAX big screen film, Antarctica, ranks as the second highest grossing Australian production, after Crocodile Dundee.
The couple plan to reside in Austria, Susanne's home country, given plans to possibly buy a chalet and be closer to their children, who are in Europe. Originally from the NSW north coast, Weiley left the region for about 12 years to work for the BBC in London, and bought at Broken Head in 1997 for $770,000 from local solicitor Bob Friend and wife Vera.
Seven Mile was the last house designed by Neville Quarry, who died in 2004.  The Seven Mile Beach Road property is set 33 metres above sea level, close to the 8.49-hectare holding sold by Melbourne's Smorgon family last year for $6.3 million to former WorleyParsons executive Russell Staley. The Staley purchase came with approval for an eight-bedroom, Kerry Hill-designed house on its holding of 460 metres beach frontage. The Staley holding had been previously traded at $5,020,000 in 2005 when sold by actor Paul Hogan and long-time colleagues John Cornell and Allan Johnston, who had paid $265,000 in 1983.
 
 
</body></html>

Neville Quarry-designed Broken Head listing: Title Tattle

<html><body>
An application to ban commission-only payments to real estate agents and prohibit the deduction of things like superannuation and advertising costs from commission payments could have a crippling effect on the industry, the Real Estate Employers’ Federation of NSW (REEF) has warned.
A copy of the latest REEF employer guide obtained by Property Observer warns that the real estate industry is “under threat from union activity” and says it is “preparing itself for perhaps the biggest industrial challenge of recent times”.
REEF highlights an application by the Real Estate Salesperson’s Association of South Australia (RESA), a trade union representing property sales consultants, to change the current system of real estate industry awards – the minimum wages paid to real estate industry employees.
The application was filed by RESA to Fair Work Australia as part of the employee watchdog’s required two-year review of the 2010 modern awards.
RESA is seeking two key changes:
<ul>
<li>To have the current debit-credit commission system be dismantled, prohibiting employers from debiting things like advertising and marketing and superannuation payments from an employee’s commissions; and 
</li>
<li>Abolishing commission-only employment by requiring a “wage safety net” for all salespeople.</li>
</ul>
“As members would be well aware, the debit-credit commission structure is simply a method of calculating a salesperson’s productivity and hence his/her entitlement to commission,” reads the REEF newsletter.
“It is a remuneration arrangement that has existed for 40 years.
“If RESA’s application succeeds, the industry will be forced to reconsider existing incentive arrangements. This might include how much sales commission an employer is prepared to share with individual salespeople.”
On the second proposal to implement a wage safety net, REEF says this would mean that “if a commission-only salesperson does not earn by way of commission over a 12-month period the minimum amounts that have to be paid to a salaried salesperson (around $40,000), the employer would have to make up the shortfall”.
“RESA’s application will completely undermine the fundamental principles of commission-only employment… We see no reason for it being removed from the award as proposed by RESA,” says REEF
Greg Paterson, executive director of REEF, says if the application is successful it will have a major impact on how salespeople are remunerated.
“They will earn less and their commission split will be less,” he tells Property Observer.
“If the application is successful people could lose their jobs because employers won’t be able to afford to keep salespeople on.
“Or they will have to renegotiate lower payments with them,” he says.
The proposed rule changes will affect the vast bulk of those working in the industry – those who are directly employed by an estate agency – but won’t affect contractors.
Paterson says REEF, which has 1,500 members, along with other employer bodies, will strongly oppose the application put forward by RESA.
“We are not sure exactly how the hearing will be undertaken, but people will be required to present evidence.
“RESA will argue in favour of the application and we will strongly oppose the application,” he says.
No hearing date has been set, but Paterson expects an announcement very soon.
Robert Simeon, a director at Richardson &amp; Wrench Mosman and Neutral Bay, says the changes will have the most damaging effect on salespeople.
“Principles will no longer have recourse to recover advertising costs from estate agents’ commission, so will demand they pay the costs upfront.
“In some expensive suburbs advertising can cost between $15,000 and $25,000.
“Many agents will lose their jobs,” he says.
A spokesperson for Fair Work Australia says a timetable for will be released shortly as well as details of how the review process will be handled.
A decision on changes to the awards system is expected this year.
Property Observer contacted RESA for a comment but had not heard back from the union at the time of publication.
 
</body></html>

lschlesinger-FZcF9M3vE6

Jobs and pay under threat from proposed union changes to real estate commission system: Industry body

<html><body>
<img src="/images/stories/noll1.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">
Singer Shannon Noll and his wife, Rochelle, have sold their five-bedroom Lilli Pilli home (pictured above) for $1.26 million and are selling up their regional home base cottage as they seemingly upgrade homes. The recently sold two-storey, American homestead-style abode in the Sutherland Shire had cost $1,285,000 in 2005 after Noll’s Australian Idol stardom. Noll's first house was bought in late 2002 - before he was catapulted into the charts and onto the Dancing With the Stars dance floor – which cost $150,000 in Condobolin (pictured below).
<img src="/images/stories/noll2.jpg">
It was listed with $230,000 hopes late last year, then $220,000 hopes and is now scheduled for May 12 auction through Ray White Parkes agent Kim Noll. The Lilli Pilli house had been listed through Greg Gilbert Real Estate and Abode Carringbah.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/jan17nicole]}
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">The Cronin Island, Gold Coast property (pictured above) of Nicole Perrin, wife of former Billabong surfwear entrepreneur Matthew Perrin, has been settled, with the sold price being $6.1 million. It had been passed in at $5.9 million at its January auction through Michael Willems of Ray White Surfers Paradise, but was briefly valued for borrowing purchases for Matthew at $15 million in 2008. It’s the three-level Southern Cross Drive house, the subject of a court battle between Perrin and the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/nicole-perrin-joyous-but-stacey-mcivor-distraught-in-cronin-island-home-dramas/2011092051617">Commonwealth Bank, which unsuccessfully sought to seize it </a>in a bid to recover a $13.5 million debt owed by Matthew after he filed for bankruptcy in 2009. The contemporary mansion with seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms straddles a double block. There’s also a 10-car garage. It’s been bought by Terry Gavan.
<img src="/images/stories/brougham.jpg"> 
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">Brougham House (pictured above), one of the original Woollahra estate, has been listed for sale. It sits in north-facing gardens with open level lawn and a mature Norfolk Island and Hoop pine trees. The Nelson Street holding is listed through Ray White Elliott Placks. Built in the early 186's, added to in 1870 and again in the 1900s, the house was occupied by Judge James Dowling of the District Court, up to the early 1900s and then by solicitor Frederick King up to the early 1930s. It was purchased by the NSW government, and used until 1992 under the control of the Department of Youth. The 1,309-square-metre landholding has been listed by Jewish Care with $4.5 million-plus hopes. Placks will donate his commission fee to charity.
<img src="/images/stories/avondale.jpg">
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">Avondale (pictured above), the striking Wharf Road, Gladesville residence, has been listed for May 17 Savills auction. It's a landmark estate on a 2,141-square-metre waterfront grounds block. The house dates back to 1888, with renovations undertaken in 1993 and 2009. It’s an ornate Victorian residence built by solicitor Edwin Sandys Lumsdaine, the husband of Banjo Paterson's sister, Rose Florence Paterson. A son of Reverend William Lumsdaine, he was also a religious, having a small chapel built within the house, which is now used as a study. The grounds have the original stables, which have been converted to a self-contained guest house overlooking a 16-metre swimming pool. There's also an 1830s sandstone cottage, Rockend, which was the home of Banjo Paterson's grandmother and as a young man, the iconic bush poet lived there with her.
With ornate original details throughout, the two-storey residence has elegant formal sitting and dining rooms, five bedrooms, three bathrooms and a modern marble kitchen. More than $4.8 million is being sought by the Savills listing agents Adam Ross and Shayne Harris.
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">The Honan family has finally sold its redundant hillside Palm Beach retreat, Lethington, through LJ Hooker Palm Beach agents David Edwards and Peter Robinson. It's a four-bedroom, 1922 sandstone residence set on a 1,256-square-metre block with a somewhat neglected mini-tennis court. The ridge-line Palm Beach Road house dates back to Sir Herbert Lethington Maitland, an eminent Sydney surgeon, who bought the property in 1922. He demolished the existing house and built the present one with sandstone quarried from the site. The house was named Lethington but locals still refer to it as the Maitland House. The listing in April last year followed the Honans' late 2010 purchase of Lango, the three-level 1960s house set on 1,433 square metres above the rock pool at Palm Beach. It was sold to the Honans for $10.05 million by the Cross family, who'd paid $750,000 in 1969. The family patriarch, Dick Honan, chairman of the ethanol-producing Manildra Group, have always hovered around trophy property, as Title Tattle recalls an auction in 1994 when the family unsuccessfully sought to buy on the beach when Melaleuka, the Pratten family's bungalow, was sold for $3.1 million to the Chisholm family. Title Tattle would be surprised if the family didn't give due considerations to have bought Kalua.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/september16kalula]}
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">But of course it was retired car dealer Laurie Sutton who bought Kalua (pictured above), the Joye family’s plantation-style Palm Beach trophy home. It sold at a record price for the suburb, with Sutton and his wife, Di, likely to have paid a tad short of its ambitious $25 million expectations set when Kalua was listed last September, perhaps closer to $23 million or so. It’s the second highest price ever paid for a beachfront holiday home in Australia, the highest being the $26 million Ilyuka estate at Portsea in late 2010. Kalua is the 1920s Ocean Road holiday home best known as having been the prestige Christmas holiday rental for international luminaries including Nicole Kidman, John Cleese and James Murdoch, although it didn’t get a mention in the mid-week Leveson Inquiry. Sutton and his wife will be the 1920s beach bungalow’s third owner. It was last sold by the Horden retailing family to the more entrepreneurial Joye family, the current vendors, for $330,000 in 1978. It was listed by Ken Jacobs and Darren Curtis at Christies International in conjunction with LJ Hooker Palm Beach agents David Edwards and Peter Robinson, who are under instructions not to speak with the media about any detail of the sale. There’s no confirmation whether Sutton took up the offer of taking 60% vendor financing.
{yoogallery src=[images/stories/april20stkroad]}
<img src="/images/stories/flagtitletat.jpg" style="float: left; margin: 5px;">Kia Pajouhesh, the Melbourne dentist who established Smile Solutions, has bought the 39th whole-floor Royal Domain Tower sub-penthouse. With 557 square metres of space, it’s been sold by Joanne Cookes, the wife of former Venture Stores Group owner Colin Cookes.
More than $8 million is the reputed selling price of the St Kilda Road apartment through Kay &amp; Burton agent Andrew Baines. It has views across the Shrine, city, Botanic Gardens and the bay. It comes with three bedrooms and a study plus a separate self-contained, one-bedroom apartment along with parking for eight cars. It was reportedly listed at $15 million last October, when it became the first sub-penthouse to come up for four years. It was bought by the Cookes family in 2007 from Ross and Jennifer Palazzesi for $5.35 million. The Cookes had sold their Toorak mansion to Solomon Lew's daughter, Jacqueline, for about $8.6 million.
The Cookes family had an involvement in the retailing industry for more than nine decades. The 42-level apartment block is substantially higher than most other residential projects on St Kilda Road, which are restricted to about 15 levels.
</body></html>

Shannon Noll sells in Lilli Pilli and lists Condobolin cottage: Title Tattle

<html><body>
The former property development funding entity Bridgecorp director Rod Petricevic has been jailed for six and a half years in New Zealand.
Petricevic was convicted on 18 Crimes, Companies and Securities Act charges of including misleading statements in an investment prospectus, with the former charges carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment.
Justice GeoffreyVenning said Petricevic had known statements that the company had never missed principal or interest payments were wrong. He said more than $NZ91 million ($71 million) of reinvested funds and $NZ28 million of new money was invested after misleading statements were published.
In 2007 it emerged that $18 million was owed by former Test cricketer Craig McDermott to the failed property development funding entity. It was due to be repaid two years earlier, but this deadline was extended.
Venning said he did not believe Petricevic showed true remorse for his actions in the collapse of Bridgecorp.
Some 14,500 investors lost $490 million in 2007.
"You have said you are remorseful but also maintain your innocence,” Venning said.
"You may be sorry investors lost their money but that is not true remorse – you apparently still consider you did nothing wrong.”
Crown prosecutor Brian Dickey had previously said Petricevic had not shown the kind of remorse that the court could consider as a mitigating factor.
Venning said Petricevic's feeling was nearer regret for the loss of money than remorse.
Dickey also said testimony towards Petricevic's good character, mainly from family and close friends, was "unremarkable".
Petricevic and fellow former directors, Rob Roest and Peter Steigrad were convicted in the High Court earlier this month on Crimes and Securities Act charges of misleading investors. Roest and Steigrad will be sentenced on May 18.
 
 
</body></html>

Former Bridgecorp director Rod Petricevic jailed over misleading investment prospectus

<html><body>
The REIV 2012 March quarter median prices show that regional Victoria property prices have remained flat over the quarter and year.
The median house price in regional Victoria was $314,000, representing a minor increase of 1.3% from a revised December quarter median of $310,000. This is similar to the increase of 0.9% recorded in metropolitan Melbourne.
Demand for residential property over the past year reflected the broader state of the economy and that buyers would continue to find that prices will maintain their current levels in the short term.
The property market moves in cycles, and now we are in one of stability, with overall median house prices showing no real growth.
The last 12 months also reflect both an easing in population growth and improvement in the supply of new homes.
Of the three main regional cities, demand was strongest in Bendigo, where a 5.2% improvement has caused the median house price to increase to $305,000. This is a new high for Bendigo.
In Geelong demand is also stable, with a 2.1% increase to $385,000, and in Ballarat there was a minor reduction of 0.3% to $288,000.
In Mildura there was a 5.6% increase over the quarter from $215,000 to $228,000.
A reduction in the median was recorded in Wodonga, where the price dropped from $298,000 to $255,000 over the quarter; however,  there does appear to have been a spike in prices in December, as the annual reduction was a more moderate -4.1%.
Until the economy and confidence improve, the market is likely to remain as it is now. Buyers and sellers over the next quarter in particular will be watching interest rates over the three months.
Enzo Raimondo is CEO of the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reiv.com.au/">Real Estate Institute of Victoria</a>.
 
</body></html>

enzoraimond-7fvRFHPR52

Regional Victorian property prices going nowhere

<html><body>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/melbourne-housing-market-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-ledger-residex-boss-john-edwards/2012041954363"><img src="/images/stories/70percent.gif"></a>
The<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/melbourne-housing-market-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-ledger-residex-boss-john-edwards/2012041954363"> amount of overhang of stock in Melbourne</a>, the largest stock overhang of any capital in Australia, according to Residex boss John Edwards. “I’m worried about Victoria,” he says.
 
<hr>
 
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/model-of-1950s-and-60s-margot-mckendry-lists-darling-point-apartment-title-tattle/2012042254385" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/3mplus.gif"></a>
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/new-south-wales/model-of-1950s-and-60s-margot-mckendry-lists-darling-point-apartment-title-tattle/2012042254385" target="_blank">price hopes 1950 and '60s model Margot McKendry has for her Darling Point apartment</a>. It has north-westerly views across Elizabeth Bay towards the city and Harbour Bridge. It cost $900,000 when bought in 1986.
 
<hr>
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/leisure/south-yarras-albany-boutique-hotel-sells-for-about-%2413-million/2012042354391" target="_blank"><img src="/images/stories/13m.gif"></a>
The <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/leisure/south-yarras-albany-boutique-hotel-sells-for-about-%2413-million/2012042354391" target="_blank">approximate sales price for South Yarra's Albany Hotel</a>, which recently sold. The site had 81 rooms, restaurant and bar, 24 car bays and roof top pool.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/balmain-leagues-club-site-could-become-megasized-rozelle-village-under-pacific-investments-plan/2012042254387"><img src="/images/stories/32.gif"></a>
The number of levels in one of the two towers<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/developments/balmain-leagues-club-site-could-become-megasized-rozelle-village-under-pacific-investments-plan/2012042254387"> in the proposed ‘Rozelle Village’ development on the Balmain Leagues club site</a>. The other tower is set to be 25 levels.  The revised proposal, which is double the size of the original plan that was rejected in 2010 because it was considered too big, has prompted outrage from local activists.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/leisure/sunland-lists-gold-coasts-palazzo-versace-after-company-profits-slump/2012042354413"><img src="/images/stories/80m.gif"></a>
The price expectations for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/leisure/sunland-lists-gold-coasts-palazzo-versace-after-company-profits-slump/2012042354413">Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast</a>. Sunland recently listed the hotel, just months after acquiring it outright following a swap arrangement with Dubai development partner the Enshaa Group.
 
<hr>
<a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/laurie-sutton-the-kingpin-of-sydney-property-as-he-swaps-mosman-for-kalua-in-palm-beach-in-record-setting-sales/2012042354412"><img src="/images/stories/23m.gif"></a>
The approximate price paid by retired car dealer <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/residential/laurie-sutton-the-kingpin-of-sydney-property-as-he-swaps-mosman-for-kalua-in-palm-beach-in-record-setting-sales/2012042354412">Laurie Sutton for Kalua, the Joye family’s plantation-style Palm Beach trophy home</a>. The Joye family had hoped to secure $25 million for the property.
 
<hr>
<img src="/images/stories/8929.gif">
The number of applications the Queensland government has received so far for its $10,000 building boost scheme, which will close April 30. The scheme could end with as much as half of the funding set aside for the scheme unclaimed by new home buyers and builders.
 
 
</body></html>

Latest Property News

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

Guides

Editor's Picks

Guides

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Latest Property News

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

Guides

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Guides

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News