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

Joel Robinson

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

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

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

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

Billbergia, Metrics, approved for $3.5 billion Sydney skyscrapers

International developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/spg-land">SPG Land</a> is preparing to re-launch its long-awaited $1.5 billion <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/paradiso-place-surfers-paradise-103-ferny-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Paradiso Place</a> development at Budds Beach, bringing a new price point to the Surfers Paradise apartment market.

The developer will release one-bedroom apartments from $825,000 and two-bedroom apartments from $1.24 million in the three-tower development.

According to Urbis, the starting price for the two-bedroom apartments is more than $400,000 below the weighted average sale price for comparable two-bedroom apartments in Surfers Paradise during 2025, which was pinned at $1.7 million.

&nbsp;

Urbis reported quarterly average sale prices for new two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments ranged from around $1.2 million to $1.7 million throughout 2025, peaking in the December quarter.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=185853]

Paradiso Place is now moving into its formal sales campaign, with a limited early-release opportunity available ahead of the public launch.

The development will comprise 845 apartments across three towers rising 40, 41 and 44 storeys from a 1.15-hectare site spanning an entire city block. The towers will sit above a new retail precinct.

"Paradiso Place represents a rare opportunity in today's market, offering premium apartments at a price point that is significantly more competitive than anything else currently available," SPG Land Sales Director Brad McMahon said.

"When you look at comparable new developments across Surfers Paradise, Main Beach and the Southern Beaches precinct, buyers are typically paying hundreds of thousands more for a similar product.

"The scale of this project and the developer-builder construction model allows us to unlock efficiencies that smaller developments simply cannot achieve. We are passing those benefits directly to buyers, while still delivering a five-star residential experience with an unmatched lifestyle."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=374280]

Each of the three towers designed by Rothelowman will have its own podium, connected by an elevated skybridge network to create a beachside village for residents. The resident amenity has been designed to rival a five-star hotel, with private dining rooms, resident lounges and entertainment spaces.

McMahon said the pricing strategy was a deliberate response to the current market.

"What Paradiso Place offers is a unique balance, genuine value within a premium market. Buyers are not compromising on quality, design or amenity, they are gaining access to it at a more competitive price point at a time when prices across the Gold Coast continue to reach new highs."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=106566 project_image_fid=362498]

Located around 100 metres from the beach and within walking distance of the Surfers Paradise North light rail station, Paradiso Place occupies one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held beachfront precincts.

Construction is continuing to progress, with eight of the project's 112 foundation piles now complete. Excavation has also commenced on the first diaphragm wall panel, with the first concrete poured on 15 June, marking a key milestone in the project's early works program.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=106566]

SPG Land launches $1.5 billion Paradiso Place at attractive price point

Luxury developer-builder <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/lowe-living">Lowe Living</a> has achieved a new Victorian benchmark for an off-the-plan apartment, with the sale of two penthouses at its ultra-exclusive Maison Savoy development in Brighton.

The two penthouses achieved a combined sale rate of $49,926 per sqm. Both transactions eclipsed the previous identified Victorian off-the-plan price-per-square-metre benchmark, set by the 449 sqm apartment at Como Toorak, which sold at $46,659 per sqm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140818 project_image_fid=366473]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/maison-savoy-brighton-150-esplanade-brighton-vic-3186">Maison Savoy</a>, Lowe Living's redevelopment of the former Brighton Savoy Hotel on absolute beachfront land at 150 The Esplanade, Brighton, has gained significant momentum since launching just eight weeks ago. Around 30 per cent of the project's 19 residences have already been secured, generating approximately $45 million in sales.

"Securing two of the three penthouse sales at this stage, within eight weeks of launching to market speaks to the confidence our clients place in Lowe Living," Lowe Living co-founder Emma Lowe said.

"They know we'll be with them through every stage of the journey, and that assurance is something we've worked hard to earn and never take for granted."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140818 project_image_fid=366474]

Lowe said Maison Savoy was conceived as a genuine alternative to a prestige Brighton home, combining house-scale proportions with the convenience, security and lock-up-and-leave appeal of apartment living.

Lowe Living co-founder Tim Lowe said the early sales success demonstrated the resilience of Melbourne's prestige market and highlighted the growing demand for house-sized apartments among ultra-high-net-worth buyers.

"The Melbourne market has definitely been tested in recent years, with interest rates and global economic factors all creating a period of uncertainty across the real estate sector. The sales success at Maison Savoy however demonstrates that confidence remains exceptionally strong at the top end of the market.

"The prestige market is being driven by long-term lifestyle decisions rather than short-term market sentiment, which continues to create a level of certainty that befits an absolute beachfront property in a blue-chip location like Brighton.

"Brighton's fundamentals remain among the strongest in Melbourne, with limited new supply, enduring demand from an overwhelmingly local owner-occupier market, and a rare combination of beachfront amenity and proximity to the CBD."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140818 project_image_fid=374378]

According to Cotality, Brighton remains one of Melbourne's most tightly held prestige suburbs, with an average ownership tenure of 15.3 years for houses and 12.3 years for units, while more than 73 per cent of homes are owner-occupied.

Tim Lowe said selling two of the project's three penthouses so early in the campaign was an uncommon result.

"This sales result is a reflection of quality and understanding the local market. It's incredibly rare to transact the penthouses so early in a sales campaign in any project so to have sold two of the three penthouses at Maison Savoy so soon after launch, all in-house without any external sales agency appointed, is reflective of our careful consideration of our buyers' needs and lifestyle.

"This is knowledge that is accumulated not just from data and demographic analysis, but via a deeply embedded understanding of how this type of buyer wants to live and feel in their home. We pride ourselves on getting to know our clients personally, and over the last 10 years we have been able to refine our product offering by talking one-on-one with our clients about their design and floorplan preferences.

"Being a fully integrated developer-builder with an in-house design and sales team allows us to lead every part of the process and ensure the highest quality of product and service at every touchpoint. It's a really important part of our DNA and the recent sales success at Maison Savoy indicates that our clients and purchasers are resonating with this point of difference.

"It reinforces that demand remains strong for thoughtfully designed residences that offer rarity, lifestyle and long-term value in tightly held locations, which ultimately validates Maison Savoy's positioning as creating a new benchmark for house-scale, wellness-led apartment living on Brighton's beachfront."

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=140818 project_image_fid=366480]

The residences at Maison Savoy start from 295 sqm, with most enjoying uninterrupted views across Port Phillip Bay. The project sits moments from the Brighton Bathing Boxes, Royal Brighton Yacht Club, Middle Brighton Baths and Church Street's retail and dining precinct.

A key feature of the development is its private residents-only bathhouse, curated by the founder of Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse and modelled on traditional European bathing rituals and the award-winning Sorrento bathhouse.

The wellness offering includes a hydrotherapy pool, salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool, foot activation zone and a Vichy rainfall bed, one of only a handful in Australia. Residents will also have access to a Technogym studio, lounge spaces and a dedicated concierge service offering everything from morning coffee delivery and restaurant bookings to dry cleaning and home coordination.

"Wellness-led design has become a defining factor for luxury buyers," Emma Lowe said.

"Purchasers increasingly value homes that enhance wellbeing through thoughtful design, private amenity, privacy and liveability."

The penthouse purchasers are now undertaking a bespoke customisation process curated personally by architect Pete Kennon and the Lowe Living team, one of the developer's signature service offerings.

Construction on the $160 million transformation of the former Brighton Savoy Hotel site commenced last month, with completion expected in early 2028. The project has secured funding from NAB alongside development partner Monark.

Just one penthouse remains available, along with a limited number of two and three-bedroom residences starting from $3.75 million.

Lowe Living currently has eight projects on the market across Melbourne and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, having grown a $1 billion development pipeline alongside a $350 million construction pipeline.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=140818]

Lowe Living set new Melbourne off the plan apartment record

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>
As an urban planner of more than 30 years’ experience, can I say to you that I am deeply troubled by growing disparities in the choices available to Melburnians by the fact of where they live. The amenity enjoyed by a resident of an established suburb like <a target="_blank" href="/news">Hawthorn</a>, six kilometres east of the CBD, or <a target="_blank" href="/news">Clayton</a>, some 19 kilometres southeast of the CBD, is quite different from that of a Melburnian putting up stumps in areas like <a target="_blank" href="/news">Craigieburn</a>, 26 kilometres north of the CBD, or <a target="_blank" href="/news">Melton</a>, 35 kilometres west of the CBD, or <a target="_blank" href="/news">Cranbourne</a>, 43 kilometres to the south-east.
If you can forgive a little nostalgia, let me wind back to my own childhood in a comfortable home in <a target="_blank" href="/news">East Ivanhoe</a> in the 1950s. I lived in a part of Melbourne that was green, suburban and safe. From the age of seven, I was encouraged by my parents to walk to the local state primary school with my brother and sister. The walk was over a kilometre; we passed churches, a kindergarten and a shopping centre. We had to negotiate a couple of crossings along the way. I developed a real sense of place and independence from an early age due to these trips, mirrored by other children in the neighbourhood. Later, when I went to secondary school in <a target="_blank" href="/news">North Balwyn</a>, it was a much longer journey involving a walk, a bus and tram – but again I was lucky; good public transport connections were available where I lived.
So, what might travelling to school be like for a child growing up today in a new suburb like Craigieburn – situated at the end of a train line, where public buses venture on the half hour of a weekday morning and where there is no prospect of a tram on the horizon? Unless she lived close to school, she's more likely to be dropped off and picked up by car. If she walked, she would negotiate unfinished footpaths, greenfield sites and barbed wire situated near finished housing. There would be boards promising yet-to-be-built shops and signage boasting housing with “unbelievable prices”.
In contrast, a child living in East Ivanhoe, even accounting for 21st-century parental anxiety about walking to school, is still likely to have my freer experience of walking or catching public transport in a suburb full of amenities.
An increasing geographical divide in the mode of travel to school, to work, to local shops and community facilities between suburbs also extends to educational options, ranging from childcare and preschool to primary, secondary and tertiary education. You can even see a gulf in the different flavour of lifestyles offered by real estate advertisements – be it so-called “downtown” city living or suburban living.
Disparities of place are also reflected in availability of jobs within a reasonable travel distance from homes located between suburbs and even the type of dwellings offered to match different needs and budgets. Long travel times from home to work are hurting productivity levels, the city’s environmental health and disrupting work and life balance.
There is less time to spend with children, family and friends and long commutes – overwhelmingly by car in the urban growth-corridor suburbs – are contributing to problems of mortgage stress. There is disconnection in our city between where jobs are located and where many people on the lower economic rungs can (sometimes barely) afford to live. The inevitability of rising petrol prices and the rising cost of living in comparison to salaries for paid work are all factors that have a knock-on effect on our social connectedness and economic future.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Meanwhile, projections over the next 40 years for metropolitan Melbourne inform us that we will be living and working in a geographically larger metropolis – with approximately 6.4 million people forecast by the year 2050, compared with nearly 4.2 million today. The future is already on our doorstep: greater Melbourne grew by 60,000 between June 2010 to June 2011 – that's the equivalent of twice the population of <a target="_blank" href="/news">Preston </a>in one year.
The challenges faced by governments responsible for managing the growth and development in our capital cities are multi-dimensional. An ageing population means we will have fewer people in the workforce. There is also a more competitive and innovative global marketplace in which to do business. They signal that we cannot afford to plan cities on “business as usual” terms.
For too long, governments of all political colours have relied on a legacy of past planning policies, programs and city shaping investment to “cope” with growth rather than “manage” growth. We continue to rely on ageing transport infrastructure to move people and goods around our metropolis rather than redirecting our energies to providing public transport that enhances accessibility to a wide range of jobs and services. We have failed to address issues such as affordable housing by expanding the sea of suburbia on Melbourne’s outskirts and cementing the car culture even more into the city's psyche.
To date, we have also promised so much for the people living in the growth areas and delivered so little in terms of public transport, jobs, childcare and maternal health, schools and medical facilities.
I believe the future of metropolitan Melbourne is at a watershed in its 177-year history. The complexity and seriousness of problems associated with urban growth are becoming matters of state, national and possibly international consequence. The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Reform Council acknowledged as much in 2011, stating:
‘The way we undertake our strategic planning for cities needs to change. Population growth, demographic changes, increasing energy costs and the shift to a knowledge-based economy have changed the assumptions that underpinned planning.’
The discussion paper Melbourne, let’s talk about our future – released last month by the Ministerial Advisory Committee (MAC) – introduces nine principles and 16 ideas as a conversation starter to help shape the planning strategy for this city. Let’s focus on two: “social and economic participation” and the need for “strong communities”. I believe the two principles are at the heart of building a good life for all Melburnians.
I am not saying we don’t need to focus our attention on building a smarter, more innovative and globally competitive economy, because that is also a key principle in our discussion paper. But as a city, I say we can no longer view social issues as separate to economic issues. Having a job when you want one – including a choice of jobs – and not feeling disenfranchised or isolated are the foundations of quality of life and community success.
Employment brings the ability to meet material needs, social contact and dignity.
Connection to family, friends and neighbours across generations is also important to building strong, healthy and inclusive local communities.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
To secure our future workforce and ensure job opportunities, strong foundations must also be built on education, skills retraining and life learning . Presently, we have pockets in our city where the non-completion rate at secondary schools is as high as 27%. Within OECD countries, Australia is 20th for school completion rates. To place this ranking in context, research by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research states that ‘about six in 10 children from low socio-economic households in Australia currently complete high school ,while 90% of students from more affluent homes  finish secondary studies’.
If we are to realise an ambitious national target of 90% year 12 completion by 2015, then metropolitan Melbourne has a significant challenge ahead to increase the number of  youth completing year 12 as an entry “certificate” to a job. If we are building suburbs without a secondary school within walking or cycling distance or a reasonable public transport trip, then how can we expect our children to want to attend and progress in education?
Clearly, the proposition that releasing more greenfields land on the fringe of Melbourne to assist in addressing housing affordability is also not ringing true. The aptly named VAMPIRE  or Vulnerability Assessment for Mortgage, Petroleum, and Inflation Risks and Expenditure  index shows a growing number of Melburnians facing mortgage stress – many of whom live in the outer suburbs and growth areas. Dwellings being built on the city's fringe are also too often energy-guzzling housing in suburbs lacking essential services and facilities, despite the efforts to build master-planned communities under the mantra of “sustainable communities”.
Quite frankly, there is little that is truly sustainable about these new housing developments. Beyond the odd solar panel on the roof of a house, the water tank in the backyard and the water-sensitive urban-design features which have become a marketing trademark of these projects, the lack of job opportunities, reliable and frequent public transport and basic social infrastructure in these areas sends warning signals that such developments are unsustainable in the short and long term. We are building houses that are too large for small lot, where any potential for trees in the backyard has been replaced by the alfresco dining deck. It is the new version of “suburbia”, but this time round it is just 'more building’ on less land.
Of course, shelter alone does not sustain a good life assuming that you can afford to own or rent the housing that matches your needs. The building blocks of successful cities are strong and cohesive local communities. Local councils are well attuned to gauging community needs – they are at the coalface of community dissent and dissatisfaction.
The councils of Cardinia, Casey, Hume, Melton, Mitchell, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Wyndham and Yarra Ranges prepared a submission to a state parliamentary committee inquiry on Growing the Suburbs: Infrastructure and Business Development in Outer Suburban Melbourne in February this year. There are some compelling statements in this submission that I want to share so that we understand the magnitude of the issues we face and ask the question: why haven’t these growth areas got a fairer share of the infrastructure pie over the last decade or more?:
<ul>
<li>From 2001-2010 these municipalities accommodated some 332,660 new residents or 55% of Melbourne’s growth during this period.</li>
<li>However, during this period, investment in infrastructure services and provision of jobs has not kept pace with this growth.</li>
<li>These municipalities have relatively high levels of social economic disadvantage, low educational outcomes, poorer health outcomes, relatively high unemployment levels, significant deficits in local employment opportunities, low provision of higher order services including arts and culture services, and a heavy reliance on private vehicle-based travel.</li>
</ul>
Average wages in these council areas, situated on the outer edge, are 12% lower than in other metropolitan areas, with only 11% of residents holding a bachelor degree or higher education qualification, compared with 24% in inner Melbourne. There are 11 hospital beds per 10,000 residents in these council areas, compared with 30 per 10,000 in inner Melbourne. Only 1.5% of residents use public transport for their daily commute, as opposed to 12.1% in metropolitan areas.
I could go on citing statistics that highlight an inner Melbourne rich in job choices, well endowed with infrastructure and clearly more affluent overall than are residents living in the urban growth areas of our city who lack basic infrastructure and job opportunities upon which to build a good life.
According to the submission, for example, approximately 20 per cent of the bus routes that do operate in the 10 municipalities do not achieve Minimum Service Levels (MSL), defined as a 'minimum of one-hourly service interval between 6am-9pm Monday-Friday, 8am-9pm  Saturday and 9am-9pm Sunday and a stop every 400 metres along the route'.
Indeed, too many of our suburban bus routes are configured on the basis of connecting with major suburban rail stations ‘down the line’. They are usually linear journeys, often along main roads and, while they may connect to the nearest major activity centre, they are not facilitating public transport access to some of the more significant job clusters or employment agglomerations.
A large study conducted by the Centre for Work + Life across 10 Australian outer and growth suburbs from 2006-2009 – including some in Victoria – found that the separation of residential areas from areas of employment meant some residents took lower skilled jobs closer to home in order to meet the family’s caring responsibilities. This had a specific impact on highly educated and skilled women. The study also found that in newer suburbs there is less support available for formal services, extended family and community relationships.
Characterise this divide as ‘two Melbournes’ or ‘the haves and have nots’ – the tag doesn't matter. What matters is that unless government, the private sector and wider community join up to start to address these problems it will have profound and deleterious effects on our city.
My committee's discussion paper is not just about identifying problems; it also canvases solutions. There is a strong emphasis on bringing more jobs near to where people live and more people to where higher job densities prevail now and in the future. This will require some of those jobs being located closer to the outer areas so that they are readily accessible by public transport – of looking at ways of more bums on seats on the almost-empty trains, trams and buses that are going in the reverse direction during the peak travel periods.
It will require encouraging medium and higher-density housing within and close to these job clusters, noting that these jobs are not primarily retail, as is the emphasis in current planning policy. It will also mean that the public transport network, and walking and bicycling networks, will need to be upgraded, even reconfigured to ease connections between home and work.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
If we are truly serious about encouraging more people to use alternative transport modes other than the car to link home with education, with jobs, shops and services, then we need to turn to buses, walking and cycling.
Few of us here would deny the public health benefits of walking and cycling – many are part of the ‘grey headed’ walking brigade with some so bold as to don the Lycra and cycle to work or for recreation. Now, the benefits have been quantified in a draft discussion paper by the federal Department of Infrastructure and Transport, Walking Riding and Access to Public Transport.
It unequivocally states the economic benefits of typical walking and cycling infrastructure include traffic decongestion, improved health, reduced vehicle operating costs and other infrastructure and environmental savings. Yet, there are many parts of Melbourne still lacking good quality pedestrian and bicycle networks. We will need to retrofit and re-engineer our land use pattern and transport system as a means of encouraging healthy, sustainable modes of travel to work, home and play.
Among the ideas the committee has also pitched is the notion of the ’20-minute’ city. What range of jobs, services and facilities would you expect to access within a 20-minute walk, a 20-minute bicycle ride or a 20-minute public transport journey from home? Many people have been excited by this idea, but there have also been naysayers ranked among the usual suspects in the ivory towers and media. But note there are already areas within our metropolis that offer the 20-minute city – inner areas such as <a href="/news">Carlton</a>, <a href="/news">Brunswick</a>, <a href="/news">St Kilda</a> and <a href="/news">Prahran</a>. The challenge ahead for us is to determine how to deliver a more widespread 20-minute city land-use pattern at the neighbourhood and suburban levels. It will require different spatial models of delivering jobs and services, as well as different models of delivering housing which is affordable and meets changing needs as we grow old.
Instead of 50% of all new housing being on the urban fringe, for example, why don’t we set ourselves a target of at least 70% of new housing in more established suburbs?
The 20-minute city is also aimed at unlocking the capacity of our established suburbs and, in particular, our middle suburbs. These areas enjoy good-quality infrastructure, much of it funded by previous generations. Perhaps it is time that all Melburnians also assisted in funding of essential urban infrastructure in the urban growth areas by way of a Melbourne metropolitan levy tied to specific projects.
In the past Melburnians paid a levy to fund the Melbourne Underground Loop, and we continue to pay an annual Parks Charge to enhance, manage and maintain our world-class network of major parks, trails, gardens and waterways. A new payment would need to be charged annually to all property owners and the basis of the amount to be paid would need to be carefully determined to ensure fairness and equity. Such a levy would be tied to agreed projects and timelines for delivery of those projects in collaboration with local government and other relevant agencies. It might be a hard sell politically, but again it is about sharing the benefits and the responsibilities of implementing the strategy.
I remain optimistic about the fate of our great city. But if the next metropolitan planning strategy is not underpinned by aspirations and challenging ideas to shape a vision for future planning and development, then it will be ‘business as usual’. If we don’t take action and initiative to support inclusive city growth, if we fail to address not only the current underinvestment in city shaping and community making infrastructure, but the infrastructure to make us a global city in the 21st-century that is liveable, sustainable, productive and equitable, then the real costs of addressing social, economic and environmental problems will escalate.
The legacy then will be even more daunting for our children and our children’s children to take on.
Roz Hansen is founder of Roz Hansen Consulting Pty Ltd and chairperson of the Ministerial Advisory Committee for the Melbourne Metropolitan Strategy. This speech was delivered at A Tale of Two Melbournes? The Disparities of Place and How to Bridge The Divide – Sambell Oration to the <a href="https://www.bsl.org.au/" target="_blank">Brotherhood of St Laurence</a>
</body></html>

rhansen-EyoQ7HRBUT

Melbourne must plan for its future growth of outer suburbs or social, economic and environmental problems will escalate

<html><body>
A landmark Victorian/Edwardian red brick residence in Ivanhoe East has been listed for sale with $6 million-plus expectations.
Located at <a href="https://www.kayburton.com.au/property/39-york-avenue-ivanhoe-east" target="_blank">39 York Avenue</a>, Rangeworthy was built in 1910.
The five-bedroom, two-bathroom <a target="_blank" href="/news">Ivanhoe East</a> home was built in the Rangeworthy Estate, an area subdivided in 1901 into 107 allotments by councillor and timber merchant William J. Brewer of Fairfield Park.
The allotments were sold for 25-40 shillings per foot.
According to the <a href="https://vhd.heritage.vic.gov.au/vhd/heritagevic/?timeout=yes#detail_places;31478" target="_blank">Victorian Heritage Database</a>, the 107 large allotments were created for a "fashionable suburb".
The house takes its name from a property that was formerly across York Avenue from heritage-listed <a href="https://www.onmydoorstep.com.au/heritage-listing/601/ravenswood" target="_self">Ravenswood</a> and to the north-east of the house.
Thomas James was the first owner (1910-20), followed by Wilfred Bromby (c.1925-35).
The house comprises of a formal dining room, an upstairs rumpus room, and a chef’s kitchen with a double oven, remote-control gates and a four-car garage.
The property is now owned by Rob Edgley, a former investment banker and now company director of EVZ Limited and Praemium Limited.
Scott Patterson and Nicole Gleeson from Kay &amp; Burton Hawthorn have listed Rangeworthy, with offers closing December 10.
</body></html>

ntrotman-Et3xWpamVh

Ivanhoe East 1910 home Rangeworthy listed with $6 million-plus hopes

<html><body>
The Melbourne apartment of the late businessman Alan Hamer and his late wife, Margaret, has been listed for December 8 auction through Marshall White.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/hamer2.jpg">
The apartment comes with views across Albert Park golf course and lake towards Port Phillip Bay.
There is a spacious living/dining room with surrounding balcony, well-equipped kitchen, plus three bedrooms including main with marble ensuite and second bathroom.
More than $1 million is tipped by Mary Dowling at Marshall White.
Located at <a href="https://www.10a-29queensroadmelbourne.com/home" target="_blank">10a/29 Queens Road Melbourne</a>, the apartment is in the Sky building.  
Another apartment on level 10 of the Sky building was listed for sale in 2007 for $725,000. It had three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Hamer, who passed away age 94 in July this year, met his wife, Margaret Angas, in 1947 while working in a chemical plant at Botany Bay. Margaret, the first woman in Australia to graduate as an aeronautical engineer, died seven weeks before him.
Alan Hamer, the brother of former premier Rupert Hamer, was a prominent <place><city>Melbourne</city></place> businessman, whose directorships included ICI, Tubemakers of Australia Ltd, and Reckitt and Colman Australia. He was also president of the Melbourne Club.
He also farmed cattle in Queensland and Victoria.
</body></html>

The Hamer family's Queens Road, Melbourne, Sky apartment listed

<html><body>
Women’s fashion identity Amanda Morgan has sold her Walter Burley Griffin-designed home in Toorak for $1.81 million.
The property at <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.thehomepage.com.au/property/residential/16a-glyndebourne-avenue-toorak/637511?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=RealEstateNews+Tuesday+13+November+2012&amp;utm_content=RealEstateNews+Tuesday+13+November+2012+Version+A+CID_604a870d06001272bf917665c8b1700d&amp;utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&amp;utm_term=The%20home%20will%20be%20auctioned%20at%201pm%20on%20Saturday%2024th%20November%20by%20R%20T%20Edgar%20Boroondara" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">16a Glyndebourne Avenue, Toorak</a>, is known as Salter house after Stanley Salter, who commissioned the property in 1922. It was featured in The Australian Home Beautiful in 1927.
It went to weekend auction<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.thehomepage.com.au/property/residential/16a-glyndebourne-avenue-toorak/637511?utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=RealEstateNews+Tuesday+13+November+2012&amp;utm_content=RealEstateNews+Tuesday+13+November+2012+Version+A+CID_604a870d06001272bf917665c8b1700d&amp;utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&amp;utm_term=The%20home%20will%20be%20auctioned%20at%201pm%20on%20Saturday%2024th%20November%20by%20R%20T%20Edgar%20Boroondara" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> </a>through R T Edgar Boroondara agent Simon Derham who had a $1.7 million reserve. It last traded at $1,082,500 in 2006. It's now a three-bedroom, three-bathroom house with bluestone terraces with heated waterfall saltwater pool on its 642-square-metre block.
Melbourne recorded a clearance rate of 61% compared to 51% for the same time last year – with the REIV chief executive Enzo Raimondo suggesting the continued good results are "helping to build confidence and should provide the foundations of further improvements in the new year".
In Sydney, the city recorded a clearance rate of 59%, compared to 58% last week and 53% last year.
Salter House was being marketed as showing Walter Burley Griffin’s <a href="https://nla.gov.au/nla.pic-vn3919897" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">architectural simplicity </a>while incorporating many of his subtle innovations to take advantage of the home’s natural surroundings.
The heart of the project was arguably its internal courtyard, which architecture commentators described as a gesture adapted from his Prairie House experiments 20 years prior.
It comes with his “knitlock” brick method of construction, which has made his commissions known around the world.
Knitlock was patented in 1917, with a company headquartered at Griffin's Melbourne office formed to market it.
Walter Burley Griffin first settled in Sydney, forming a brief partnership with J Burcham Clamp, who had sought out a friendship with the Griffins in Chicago in about 1913.
However, the partnership was dissolved in 1915 when it became necessary for Griffin to move to Melbourne, as the Federal Capital Office, of which he was director, was in Melbourne.
Griffin rented an office on the seventh floor of 395 Collins Street.
His initial plans to build his patented knitlock construction met resistance from Malvern Council, which was slow to be convinced as to the suitability of the material for a home in the wealthy suburb of Toorak.
The council's procrastination delayed construction, so the Griffin Society records reveal instead the Griffins sold the land in Kooyong Road to William R. Paling, who in turn commissioned Griffin to design his two-storey house in knitlock.
The Palings' neighbour was a <a href="/news">Toorak </a>property investor who became one of Griffin's best Melbourne clients. Mary Williams commissioned the rental flats Langi at the corner of Toorak and Lansell roads, Toorak.
Griffin's design for Stanley Salter led to designs of knitlock houses for Stanley's brother, Foster Salter in <a href="/news">Brighton</a>, and his brother-in-law, Alfred Ewins in <a href="/news">Ballarat</a>, although neither was built.
Other knitlock houses were built in <a href="/news">Canterbury </a>(1921), <a href="/news">Black Rock</a> (1923), <a href="/news">Surrey Hills </a>(1923), <a href="/news">Heidelberg</a> (1924) and <a href="/news">Woodend </a>(1929).
Knitlock was based on cheap manufacture, lightness and compactness for minimising transport, and on standard units assembled without hand fitting, cutting, bedding or plastering for speedy erection.
Much of the renovation was undertaken by Barbara Hocking, who recollected on its listing once that Griffin's original cottage in the mid-196os was terribly dilapidated.
"In those days it was normal to just tear houses like that down," Hocking recollected.
</body></html>

jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Walter Burley Griffin's 1922 Salter House, Toorak, sells

<html><body>
A Rye beach bathing box without power or water has sold for a record $275,000.
It was snapped up before its scheduled weekend auction. 
They might be a throwback to the 19th century, when the increasing popularity of sea bathing clashed with Victorian-era prudishness, but demand is still there for them.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/ryebathing.jpg">
The pre-summer sale betters the previous $170,000 <a target="_blank" href="/news">Rye </a>record, according to JP Dixon Portsea Sorrento agent Jenny Fink, who sold <a href="https://www.jpdixon.com.au/view.php?OID=4510601" target="_blank">122 Tyrone foreshore in Rye</a>.
"There is no power and no water. It is just a box and it is on the beach."
But she said<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/122-pt-nepean-road-rye/Property-Details-sold-residential-4510601" target="_blank"> the beach boxes </a>were bought by now elderly people who paid $4,000 for them and now "they just get handed down."
Victorians last year spent more than $5 million on beach boxes, according to a News Ltd report.
The tiny beach boxes dot Port Phillip Bay from Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula. 
A Portsea box last year sold set a record $585,000.
A Brighton record was set 18 months ago when a new box sold for $260,000. <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/brighton-bathing-box-market-buoyant/2011120652689" target="_blank">Bathing boxes existed in Brighton as far back as 1862</a>.
Those now on the market include one at <a target="_parent" href="/news">Rosebud </a>for $75,000, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Mt Eliza</a> for $65,000 and <a target="_blank" href="/news">Mornington </a>for $180,000-plus.
</body></html>

Rye beach bathing box sells for $275,000

<html><body>
The recent buyers of Mintaro, the 1882 Monegeetta mansion, have listed their own Diggers Rest property with a reserve price of $3.25 million.
Brian and Cheryl Glassel have listed the seven-bedroom, four-bathroom Pinewood for December 13 auction.
Located at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-diggers+rest-112328323" target="_blank">829 Black Hill Road</a>, the 1870s house sits on 97 hectares with formal gardens and farmland. The property has nine main paddocks and sheep and cattle yards.
The bluestone, brick and weatherboard construction comprises of classic drawing and dining rooms, conservatory, library, sewing room, four bedrooms and two bathrooms.
There's a second brick veneer residence for guest accommodation.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/mintaro-the-1882-monegeetta-sunbury-district-mansion-has-been-sold-at-its-%243-million-reserve-price/2012111457817" target="_blank">Last week the Glassels bought Mintaro</a>, the Sunbury district mansion, for its $3 million reserve price shortly after it had been passed in at $2.85 million.
The Glassels plan their own “Country House Rescue” with tours and dining experiences set to make the “property pay for itself”.
The Pinewood, Toolern Vale, auction will be conducted by John Keating from Keatings Real Estate Woodend.
It's only the second time in Pinewood's history since 1848 that it's available for sale.
</body></html>

Mintaro, Monegeetta, mansion buyers list their Diggers Rest property

<html><body>
It's scheduled for mooted late 2015 completion and it doesn't actually have planning approval, but the developers of the Australia 108 tower in Melbourne's Southbank precinct are inviting buyer registrations.
It will cost $1,000. And registrants will get a pre-release briefing at a level 89 Eureka Tower event in February.
Prices start at $425,000 for one-bedroom apartments and from $575,000 for two-bedroom apartments. Its three bedrooms are priced from $775,000.
<a href="https://australia108.com.au/" target="_blank">The 108-storey project</a> was unveiled earlier this month as the southern hemisphere's tallest six-star hotel/apartment building – with its mooted mammoth 388-metre skyscraper high above Melbourne's Yarra River.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/australia108.jpg">
The site is set on the corner of City Road and Southbank Boulevard, and the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) gave approval for a 72-storey, 226-metre, 532-unit skyscraper in September 2010 after a battle with Melbourne City Council.
The new project, if approved, will feature 600 apartments, plus the nation's highest hotel and restaurants floating 84 stories above the city.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/australia1083.jpg">
The 108-storey tower, which will be the 18th-tallest building in the world, is planned to rise near the 297-metre Eureka Tower, with 91 storeys.
Architects Fender Katsalidis, which also built Eureka, gained planning approval for a 228-metre apartment building on the 70 Southbank Boulevard site in 2010, but architect Nonda Katsalidis has super-sized his plans, by adding a 288-room hotel and sky deck on top.
He says the economy has strengthened and Melbourne is more confident and ready for an iconic centrepiece.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/australia1081.jpg">
"Buildings like this change cities, they make the city more dynamic, more interesting, more exciting," he said.
One of Australia 108's most striking features will be a two-storey sky lobby, which is set to house two restaurants and two bars, extending nine metres out of the building, 84 storeys above Melbourne. The hotel check-in and swimming pool will also appear to hang over the city, with sections of glass floor enabling visitors to see all the way to the ground in a much larger version of Eureka's Sky Deck. In July Property Observer<a href="/news"> reported the site was owned by Katsalidis and property developer Adrian Valmorbida </a>from the Valmorbida family.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/australia1082.jpg">
Although the project is in its preliminary design stage and will be subjected to a fresh planning application process, Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy has already commented that such a project being proposed underlined the confidence in Melbourne. "Australia is coming of age, and our cities are growing upwards," Guy said. "Taller buildings ... are a symbol of a growing nation, a strong economy, and they do have the ability to define a city," he said.
</body></html>

Fender Katsalidis' Australia 108 tower seeks $1,000 early buyer registrants 

<html><body>
Glenholme, the 1870s grand Victorian Ballarat residence, whose asking price was reduced from $2.5 million to $2.25 million, has been sold, possibly at a historic house record for the district.
It's been with the Cuthbert family since 1901, first occupied by accountant John Cuthbert, the son of Henry Cuthbert, who’d arrived in Australia in 1854 and lived in nearby Beaufort House.
Hidden behind a white paling fence within a meandering garden, the grand six-bedroom Victorian house at 111 Webster Street, <a target="_blank" href="/news">Lake Wendouree</a> is wrapped in wisteria.
There are three reception rooms comprising the salon with white marble fireplace and bay window, the sitting room, which features hand-made copper-plated bookshelves and a black marble fireplace, and the stately dining room with open fireplace and gas heating.
Exotic trees, shrubs and old-fashioned flowers create a romantic National Trust-classified garden – which is possibly one of Victoria's finest intact examples of a late Victorian suburban garden, according to the garden historian Peter Watts, who said in 1980 that it was of national significance.
It was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/victoria/national-garden-treasure-glenholme-the-1870s-grand-victorian-ballarat-residence-listed-with-record-%2425-million-asking-price/2012062955347">listed through Tony Douglass and Tim Valpied of Hocking Stuart Ballarat</a>, who have kept the sale price undisclosed since its October 31 sale.
The suburban villa was built for the merchant John Joseph Goller, a convenient distance from his warehouse in Lydiard Street North. The family had Gollers Wholesale Wine &amp; Spirit Merchants, which was established in 1855.
Ballarat’s most expensive historic home sale is currently on Wendouree Parade, which fetched $2.23 million in 2010. Set back from the road and the banks of Lake Wendouree, the 1888 house had been altered moderately in the 1930s. With four-metre-high ceilings, detailed plaster and paint work, arched doorways and stone fireplaces, the 424-square-metre six-bedroom house had been listed with $2.7 million-plus hopes in 2009.
The $2.23 million purchase was bought from the Deam family by Ballarat estate agent and farmer Stewart Gull, who played for South Melbourne and Melbourne in the 1970s, and his wife, Sue.
Property Observer is aware of a $2.4 million sale in March this year of the Invermay mansion Whistlers Run. It was a five-bedroom modern mansion, previously home to local businessman Gavin James.
Whistlers Run was marketed as a semi-rural retreat, with a 10-car garage, saltwater swimming pool, six bathrooms, three living areas and floor-to-ceiling windows with views to Ararat and Mt Langi Ghiran. Its tallowwood floorboards are reclaimed from the seats at the Melbourne Cricket Club Members Stand.


<hr class="system-pagebreak">
Property Observer is also aware of a higher sale on Lake Wendouree when $2,825,000 was paid in late 2007 for a house with 53 square metres of living space, an indoor pool and a tennis court on a large block.
Earlier this week another <a target="_blank" href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/alfred-street-lake-wendouree/Property-Details-sold-residential-4546673">contemporary Lake Wendouree </a> house (pictured below) sold at an undisclosed price. It had $1 million-plus hopes. It was marketed as coming with exclusive access to a neighbouring tennis court for $110 per annum.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/alfredst3.jpg">
The district's renowed Peter Coburn-designed 1927 residence, which was built for the mayor of Ballarat Alfred Pittard, is listed at $1.75 million through <a target="_blank" href="https://www.harcourts.com.au/Property/474613/VBT7349/303-Wendouree-Parade">Harcourts agent Gerald Cosgrave</a>. Set with 1700 square metres of established gardens, it has views over Lake Wendouree rowing course.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/wendouree.jpg">
</body></html>

Glenholme, the Lake Wendouree 1870s house in Ballarat, sells

<html><body>
After more than five years on and off the market, Dalkeith House, the two-storey gabled Tudor-style mansion at Mount Martha, has been sold for about $2 million.
The four-hectare property at <a href="https://www.rtedgar.com.au/?pagecall=property&amp;propertyID=1973683" target="_blank">245 Nepean Highway</a> came with initial $5 million hopes in 2007 and then was relisted with $4 million hopes in 2009 by the Heber family, who fully restored the property since paying $1,725,000 in 2004. It was most recently listed at $2.65 million.
The five-bedroom Dalkeith House residence includes original half-timber wall finishes, stone chimneys and leadlight picture windows.
The grounds includes an orchard, horse paddock, tennis court and swimming pool.
Over the years Dalkeith House has been used as a wedding reception venue, bed-and-breakfast accommodation – even the site of Agatha Christie-type murder-mystery parties.
In 1974, the Dalkeith House estate, which was then around 34 hectares, was bequeathed to three hospitals – the Royal Melbourne, St Vincents and The Alfred.
The hospitals later onsold it as a private home.
It's been listed over time through Bennison Mackinnon, in conjunction with Aqua Real Estate and RT Edgar, which has its listed as sold.
It is believed to have been built around 1938, with parts of the home dating back to at least 1911.
There were reportedly 24 full-time staff at the property, which spread over more than 700 acres on the west side of <a href="/news">Mount Martha</a>.
</body></html>

Dalkeith, the 1911 Mt Martha Mornington Peninsula Tudor estate, sells after five years

<html><body>
Melbourne Music Week’s secret pop-up music venue has been revealed as the gothic Argus building on the corner of LaTrobe Street and Elizabeth Street.
The 86-year-old building has been in decrepit state for decades. Its first tenant, The Argus daily newspaper, closed in 1956.
The Herald and Weekly Times Group bought the Argus newspaper along with the building in 1957 and later closed the newspaper down and sold the building.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/argus.jpg">
Education entrepreneur and founder of Melbourne Institute of Technology (MIT) Shesh Gale bought the site in 2010. His company, MIT Group Holdings, a holding of Ghale Investments, bought the six-storey building from La Trobe University for a reported $15 million.
In Melbourne the group also own 374-376 Bourke Street, 386-412 William Street, 388-390 Lonsdale Street, 277-279 Flinders Lane (Tomasetti House), 179 Collins Street and 1151-1155 High Street in Armadale. They also own 154-158 Sussex Street in Sydney.
Ghale has the site earmarked as the future flagship campus for MIT, established in 1996.
According to BRW, the Nepalese-born Ghale is worth $269 million and is the 176th richest person in Australia.
The building was constructed in the Beaux Arts style by architecture firm Godfrey &amp; Spowers. It represents a combination of the interwar styles, a stripped classical composition with Beaux-Arts, Chicagoesque and Moderne influences.
<img src="/images/stories/2012/11/argus2.png">
Melbourne lord mayor Robert Doyle has labelled the site one of the worst bomb sites in Melbourne.
In July Doyle said it was a building of ''historic significance, but it is deteriorating as we look at it and I want to give them the strong message that we will not tolerate the tactic of allowing a building to deteriorate to a point where you can't do anything with it – we will be saying to them we are putting you on notice now''.
 
<hr class="system-pagebreak">
 
The six-storey Argus building was built in 1926 and is riddled with asbestos.
La Trobe University bought the site for $8 million in 2004 to use as a campus but sold it after asbestos removal and renovation costs proved too high. The university reportedly spent more than $34 million developing the site.
In 2010, Ghale had indicated he would spend about $50 million on the renovation, which would be completed by the end of 2011. Any evidence of this has yet to be seen.
"We have been working on a number of design options over the last two years which are ready to go ahead and currently considering the option of staged development, which we hope to  finalise in the very near future," a spokesperson for the company told Property Observer.
Prior to La Trobe University's ownership, the building was owned by the Stamoulis family’s Ryssal-Three Pty Ltd, who tried for many years to sell and sell the property.
La Trobe University took legal action against the vendor claiming it was misled over the state of the building. The action was settled out of court.
A large portion of the roof and several floor sections in the 1920s building are missing. Badly cracked concrete exposes rusty iron beams and severe water damage throughout. Much of it will remain off limits, with just the two lower floors to be used.
<a href="https://blog.melbmusic.com/" target="_blank">Melbourne Music Week</a> has taken on a short-term lease for the building to use a festival site. The tenancy was meant to be kept a secret until November 16, the opening day, but details were leaked to The Age.
The tenancy was orchestrated by event entrepreneurs Kevin Karlberg and Starr Guzman of Marksthespot in conjunction with the City of Melbourne.
''Our main theme is reclamation,'' Guzman told The Age.
''We become a living organism in something that has decayed and we bring out the beauty in it.''
The festival will be restricted to the bottom two floors, with most of the building off-limits due to missing roof and floor sections, exposed rust and water damage.
Festival organisers say asbestos has been removed and stress tests allow 400 people upstairs and 800 downstairs once stairs are built.
The festival starts on November 16 with French dance duo Housse de Racket.
</body></html>

Latest Victoria Property News

Lowe Living set new Melbourne off the plan apartment record

Editor's Picks

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

Latest Victoria Property News

Lowe Living set new Melbourne off the plan apartment record

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News