National diversified developer Fortis has officially launched Crest &amp; Walker, its latest Brisbane apartment development, with construction now underway on the 20-storey Newstead project.

Award-winning builder BINAH has commenced construction on the Bureau^Proberts-designed building, which will deliver a limited collection of 65 two and three-bedroom apartments on Kyabra Street.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373556]

The project marks Fortis' fourth active residential development in Brisbane, following River House, which is nearing completion, alongside projects in New Farm and Hamilton as the national developer continues to expand its South East Queensland pipeline.

Fortis General Manager – Development Queensland Dan Boman said Crest &amp; Walker reflects the developer's long-term commitment to delivering design-led residential projects in Brisbane's established inner-city suburbs.

"We're proud to be strengthening our presence in Brisbane with Crest &amp; Walker, particularly in such a sought-after lifestyle destination as Newstead," Boman said.

"Every Fortis project is shaped by its context, and we approach each one with the respect and care it deserves.

"Our focus is always on creating places that feel connected to their neighbourhood and elevate the everyday experience for residents. Newstead continues to evolve as one of Brisbane's most sought-after urban communities, and Crest &amp; Walker reflects our ambition to contribute meaningfully to that story."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373559]

Positioned between Gasworks Plaza and James Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/crest-walker-newstead-12-kyabra-street-newstead-qld-4006">Crest &amp; Walker</a> has been designed as a boutique residential address offering privacy and generous living spaces within one of Brisbane's most established lifestyle precincts.

The building features a contemporary brick podium softened by integrated landscaping, while the upper levels are characterised by restrained architecture and enduring materiality. Interiors have been designed to maximise natural light, acoustic performance and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373583]

Residences comprise spacious two and three-bedroom floorplans, with two-bedroom apartments priced from $1.55 million and three-bedroom, half-floor residences from $3.95 million.

Residents will have access to a wellness-focused rooftop featuring a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, landscaped dining spaces and outdoor lounge areas overlooking Newstead and the Brisbane CBD.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=145922 project_image_fid=373571]

Sales are being managed by Slaite Projects, with Fortis expecting strong demand from owner-occupiers seeking a high-quality, design-focused apartment in one of Brisbane's most tightly held inner-city suburbs.

Completion of Crest &amp; Walker is slated for late 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145922]

Joel Robinson

Fortis expands Brisbane pipeline with launch of Crest & Walker in Newstead

The enormity of delivering a true skyscraper in Australia's new development market is often overlooked.

It has taken the best part of a decade since plans for Chevron One were first unveiled, but the 52-storey tower is now complete, with residents collecting their keys and moving into what has become one of the Gold Coast's most recognisable new landmarks.

Rising 127 metres above Chevron Island, Chevron One stands almost twice as high as any other building on the island. Its scale places it alongside the trio of towers at Jewel, arguably the last truly significant addition to the central Gold Coast skyline when they were completed around six years ago.

While there are several developments underway around a similar height to Chevron One, they are more concentrated within clusters of the highest towers in the city. The fact Chevron One sits within a developing precinct, looking back at the other high-rise developments in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, makes it a different proposition altogether. It will certainly become a reference point on the Gold Coast skyline.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68833]

Developer Bensons Property Group is behind the 52-storey tower, which has just shy of 250 apartments, along with an exhaustive list of resident amenity spread across what is the largest development site ever assembled on Chevron Island.

The tower has been the talk of the town for years, says Ray White Projects Gold Coast agent Caitlin Rosenboom, who is selling the remaining apartments.

"People have been watching Chevron One go up for years," Rosenboom says, adding that many prospective buyers have been surprised by the scale of the views once they step inside.

"It's only when they walk through a completed apartment that they truly understand the position of the building," Rosenboom says.

"The views are jaw-dropping. Whether you're looking east over the ocean, across Surfers Paradise, along the river systems or out to the hinterland, every level offers something different but equally impressive."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=360215]

One of Chevron One's defining advantages is its location on the eastern side of Chevron Island on Stanhill Drive, a position which protects the views forever.

"There's only one row of houses between Chevron One and the water, and the height restrictions along the river means views from Chevron One can never be built out,"&nbsp;Rosenboom says.

While new apartment developments continue to emerge across the Gold Coast, Rosenboom says opportunities to secure a completed apartment with this level of outlook are becoming increasingly rare.

"The size of the site is something that would be incredibly difficult to replicate today," she says.

"That's allowed Chevron One to deliver the sort of amenity, open space and resident facilities that very few projects can offer. There are not many completed apartment buildings on the Gold Coast right now that can compete with the combination of scale, quality and amenity."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6515 project_image_fid=68839]

There's around 2,000 sqm of amenity solely for the use of residents of Chevron One. Club One features a uniquely shaped swimming pool that mirrors the footprint of the building itself, set within a extensively landscaped gardens. There's also an indoor pool and spa, a fully equipped gym with a Pilates room, a yoga garden, a bookable private dining area and lounge that can host up to 30 people, and a 24-hour concierge service.

As for the buyers, Rosenboom is fielding enquiry from everywhere: Sydneysiders and Melburnians looking at the new and off-the-plan market following the changes in the Federal Budget, as well as those looking to relocate, through to South East Queenslanders seeking either a permanent home or a weekender bolthole.

"The Gold Coast lifestyle continues to resonate with people relocating from the southern states, and when they see the views and the quality of what's been delivered at Chevron One, it becomes very easy for them to understand the appeal," Rosenboom says.

A diverse mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments remain available, with each offering "something a little different", be it the orientation and views, configuration, or level, to suit a wide variety of buyers.

The remaining apartments are ready to inspect in person, by appointment.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6515]

A decade in the making: Residents to move into Chevron One as construction wraps up

A general rule of thumb in new apartment developments is that the penthouses get the rooftop.

It's a formula that's become commonplace across Australia's apartment market. Residents might have access to a pool, gym or barbecue facilities on a dedicated lower level, but the most desirable outdoor spaces are typically reserved for the highest-priced homes at the top of the building.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sherpa-property-group">Sherpa Property Group</a> has taken the opposite approach.

Rather than dedicating the rooftop to a handful of buyers, the Gold Coast developer has made it the centrepiece of its Flourish collection, creating expansive shared spaces from the best vantage point in the building.

The philosophy has reached its most ambitious expression at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/flourish-soleira-palm-beach-1150-1160-gold-coast-highway-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Soleira</a> in Palm Beach, where two rooftop precincts connected by a skybridge will deliver one of the most extensive lifestyle offerings seen in a residential apartment project on the Gold Coast.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374053]

"We're seeing a clear move toward developments that offer more than just an apartment," Sherpa Group founder Christie Leet said.

"People want spaces that support how they actually live, whether that's working from home, staying active, or spending time with family and friends.

"That's where amenity becomes critical. It's not just about what's included, but how those spaces are designed to be used every day."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374052]

The breadth of amenity has already attracted buyers across multiple demographics. Younger first home buyers have been drawn to Soleira's one-bedroom apartments, a product rarely delivered in Palm Beach, while families have responded to practical inclusions such as the shallow children's pool adjoining the main lap pool and the extensive communal recreation areas.

Instead of a single rooftop, Soleira delivers two distinct lifestyle zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

The southern rooftop has been dedicated to wellness, featuring a gym, yoga and Pilates studio, work-from-home facilities, a wellness centre, spa, and hot and cold plunge pools.

The northern rooftop focuses on recreation and entertaining, incorporating a heated resort-style pool, private dining rooms, pizza ovens, barbecues, a golf simulator, children's recreation areas, and what is expected to be the Gold Coast's first rooftop basketball court, which will also double as a squash court.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=374054]

Beyond the rooftops, Soleira will introduce 1,500 sqm of curated retail beneath the towers, creating one of Palm Beach's first genuinely mixed-use lifestyle precincts where cafés, restaurants and convenience retail become part of residents' everyday lives.

Sherpa has also retained management rights across the development, allowing it to oversee the long-term operation of the building through a 24-hour concierge model. The developer is also exploring additional revenue streams within the precinct aimed at helping offset ongoing body corporate costs for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=370962]

While Soleira is the largest project Sherpa has delivered, the rooftop-first philosophy has been evolving for several years.

It began with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/amargo-6-12-sixth-avenue-palm-beach-qld-4221">Flourish Amargo</a>, the first project released under the Flourish brand. Rather than competing at the ultra-luxury end of the market with oversized half-floor and full-floor residences, Sherpa focused on creating lifestyle-driven apartments supported by resort-style shared spaces.

Amargo introduced more than 800 sqm of rooftop amenity, combining wellness facilities, heated pools, entertaining areas, cabanas, pizza ovens and private dining spaces into what was designed as an extension of residents' homes rather than a facility used only occasionally.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146527 project_image_fid=366550]

That approach continued with Flourish Oasis, where the same amenity-led philosophy was refined into a more boutique development. Strong demand from Sherpa's growing VIP database saw much of the project sold before it reached the broader market, reinforcing buyer appetite for apartment communities centred around shared lifestyle experiences.

Flourish Amargo is slated for completion mid-way-through next year, with Oasis to be delivered by late 2027. Flourish Soleira is expected to complete in 2030.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150017]

Sherpa takes amenity to the sky as Flourish Soleira captures booming Palm Beach demand

As apartment living continues to evolve across Sydney's growth corridors, the quality and distribution of shared spaces is increasingly shaping how residents experience home. Rather than functioning as add-ons, amenities are being embedded into the daily rhythm of a building, supporting everything from quiet retreat to social interaction, often within a single vertical community.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/aeris-melrose-park-nursery-street-melrose-park-nsw-2114">Aeris</a> in Melrose Park, this approach is resolved through a layered amenity offering that unfolds from ground level through to its upper podium. Developed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sekisui-house-australia">Sekisui House Australia</a> in partnership with Hankyu Hanshin Properties, the project introduces 468 apartments across two towers and a mid-rise building, positioned at the highest point of the broader masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=359199]

The amenity experience begins at street level, where two courtyards sit within a landscaped setting that connects residents to the wider network of parks and green spaces. These green spaces are not isolated pockets but part of a wider pedestrian network that links Aeris to the surrounding <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/melrose-park-nsw-2114">Melrose Park</a> precinct, including Central Park, future schools, and the Town Centre opening in July 2026. The result is a transition that moves from public to private without abrupt boundaries, allowing residents to pass through shaded, tree-lined environments before reaching the building itself.

Moving upward, the focus shifts to the level five podium, where the primary communal facilities are concentrated. This space brings together a 16-metre swimming pool, outdoor seating areas, and a communal BBQ zone arranged to take advantage of elevated outlooks. Seating is positioned beneath pergolas, creating pockets of shade that extend the usability of the space throughout the day. The pool edge aligns with views toward the wider district, reinforcing the sense of elevation that defines the project’s positioning.

In the adjacent building, this is complemented by quieter, more contemplative spaces, including an outdoor cinema set within the same level. Positioned to operate primarily in the evening, it introduces a different tempo to the shared environment, shifting from daytime activity to after-hours use without requiring separate zones.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360299]

The podium also accommodates an intimate private resident gym. Located on the lower levels, it gives residents convenient access to fitness facilities without leaving the building.

Above, the elevated podium sky deck extends the amenity offering, providing additional open-air spaces with elevated outlooks across the surrounding landscape. While more restrained in program, this upper level reinforces the project’s vertical progression, from ground-level greenery to elevated outlook, allowing residents to move between distinct spatial conditions within a single address.

This distribution of amenities reflects a deliberate response to how residents use space across the day. Sekisui House Australia Sales and Marketing Director Peter Kalaf points to the role these shared areas play in shaping buyer demand. Aeris has been conceived as more than a collection of apartments, with the podium pool, gym and outdoor cinema forming part of a broader lifestyle offering that extends the home beyond each individual residence.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=426 project_image_fid=360300]

What distinguishes Aeris is not the inclusion of these elements individually, but how they are arranged in relation to one another. Active, social, and passive spaces are layered vertically rather than separated, allowing residents to choose between them without leaving the building or moving far from their apartment. This proximity supports both routine use, such as a morning swim or evening workout, and more occasional gatherings, whether around the BBQ area or within the cinema setting.

The amenity design also sits within a broader framework of connectivity across Melrose Park. The Melrose Park Town Centre, anchored by Coles and Dan Murphys, features a mix of retail, dining, health and lifestyle offerings, bringing everyday convenience closer to residents. By the end of the year, more than five hectares of parks and open space, equivalent to around seven football fields of green space on residents' doorstep, will further enhance the precinct, allowing the internal facilities at Aeris to operate as an extension of the wider neighbourhood rather than a substitute for it.

Construction at Aeris continues to gather momentum, with ground floor slabs expected to be completed in late 2026 before the first sections of the buildings begin to rise above ground.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=426]

Elevated amenity anchors daily life at Aeris, Melrose Park

Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

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"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351104]

Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Australia Post is one of the country’s most trusted institutions, powering one of the largest delivery networks in Australia. As online shopping continues to scale, Australians spent a record $82.6 billion online in 2025, with nearly one in four retail dollars now spent online.

That scale of eCommerce activity has fundamentally changed expectations around how and when parcels arrive, and what happens when someone isn't home.

<h3>Problem solved with Parcel Lockers</h3>

The traditional alternatives to home delivery are far from ideal. Buildings can rely on reception teams to manage deliveries, which introduces ongoing staffing costs and liability concerns. Parcels can be left in common areas, which creates security and aesthetic issues. Or residents are redirected to nearby Post Offices for collection, which shifts the inconvenience rather than solving it.

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The data behind that frustration is significant. Nationally, around 9 per cent of deliveries are carded, meaning the recipient was not home and must collect the parcel from a Post Office. That figure reflects the national average reported between November 2025 and January 2026. In Melbourne, that figure rises to 20 per cent. In high-density living, it climbs again to 28 per cent. In other words, more than one in four deliveries in Melbourne apartment buildings results in a failed first attempt.

<h3>How Parcel Lockers work</h3>

The mechanics are simple. When a parcel arrives, the resident receives a notification either through the Australia Post app or via SMS. They scan a QR code, use their one-time PIN and the compartment opens. The parcel is secure, accessible and removed from the lobby floor.

Located in thoughtfully chosen, easily accessible areas, including external building interfaces, mixed-use precincts or shared communal zones, Parcel Lockers enhance convenience without requiring internal building access or additional operational oversight.

<h3>The scale of the network</h3>

This expansion represents Australia Post's largest investment in parcel infrastructure to date, building on momentum that began in 2011 when the first 24 Parcel Locker sites were introduced.

Today the Australia Post Parcel Locker network spans over 1,400 locations and more than 105,000 individual compartments, with major investment already underway to significantly expand the network further.

<h3>What it means for developers and building operators</h3>

A Parcel Locker bank is free to install and free for residents to use. That removes one of the primary barriers to adoption and shifts the conversation from cost to integration.

Australia Post's preference is to engage with developers during the design phase. That allows Parcel Lockers to be located in a considered, publicly accessible space that works for residents and the broader community. Retrofit is possible, and existing buildings can be assessed, but the strongest results occur when Parcel Lockers are treated as part of the core services plan rather than a bolt-on solution.

While the iconic Australia Post red is widely recognised, Parcel Lockers can also be delivered in more muted palettes such as beige or green to align with architectural intent.

For developers, they offer a tech-forward amenity that meets modern expectations, a reduction in courier congestion and building-management load supporting lower emissions and better ESG outcomes, and a meaningful marketability advantage in high-density, eCommerce-active areas, all at no cost for installation and maintenance, with Australia Post funding the program aside from power access.

<h3>Who's using them</h3>

Generational shopping behaviours show strong, sustained growth across all cohorts. Millennials (27–43) led online spend in 2024, contributing nearly $25 billion. Baby Boomers (60–78) increased their online spend by 17.6 per cent, becoming the fastest-growing adopters. Gen Z (13–26) and Gen X (44–59) continue to lean on delivery services as part of their everyday shopping habits.

Internationally, uptake is even more pronounced. Overseas markets are seeing rapid adoption by both developers and consumers, positioning Parcel Lockers as standard infrastructure in many new residential projects. For Melbourne's development community, this signals a shift in baseline expectations. Just as secure bike storage and dedicated parcel rooms have become more common, integrated Parcel Locker networks may soon be viewed as part of the essential service mix.

<h3>The bigger picture</h3>

Parcel Lockers aren't just a logistics fix. Developers invest heavily in lobby design, materials, lighting and landscaping to shape first impressions. Yet a stack of unattended parcels can undo that effort in an instant. Embedding parcel infrastructure early allows projects to respond to how people actually live today, supporting resident satisfaction, reducing operational strain and aligning with broader community and ESG outcomes.

As Belinda Quinn, Senior Transaction Manager – Retail &amp; Out of Home at Australia Post, puts it, residents increasingly expect delivery solutions that align with real life, are flexible, secure and available whenever they need them.

How Australia Post is solving the parcel problem for apartment living

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Michael and Carlene from The Block Glasshouse have appointed the great-grandson of company founder Ray White, Matt White, as the marketing agent for their upcoming 11 October auction.
The unit will go under the hammer through Ray White auctioneer Haesley Cush. Michael and Carlene previously sold their Gold Coast property with Ray White.
“For active buyers in the Melbourne market, the most important thing to remember is that The Block is the most highly publicised auction in the country, and for that reason, has the most motivated vendors,” said Cush.
“Michael and Carlene are accomplished renovators. Michael is an experienced tradesperson and he’s one of the most qualified contestants on this series of The Block.”
“It’s long been said that kitchen’s are the jewel of every home, and Michael and Carlene smashed it out of the ballpark with the unveiling of their kitchen,” he said.
The unit is, however, the second smallest in the complex. However, Cush says it’s size won't deter potential buyers.
“It’s the second smallest unit in a building that’s full of enormous units. If you look beyond the properties on The Block, this is a large, spacious home by anyone’s standards,” he said.
White said that they will commence marketing to prospective buyers this week and that with two consecutive room wins they hope to see the couples’ success continue.
Meanwhile, fellow contestants Maxine and Karstan's renovated apartment will go to <a href="/expert-insights/buying/maxine-and-karstans-the-block-glasshouse-prahran-apartment-set-for-11-october-auction">auction through </a><a href="/expert-insights/buying/maxine-and-karstans-the-block-glasshouse-prahran-apartment-set-for-11-october-auction">Buxton's agent Karl Gillon</a>.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/3-121-127-high-street-prahran/Property-Details-buy-residential-7578426" target="_blank">The 3/121-127 High Street offering</a> is set for 2pm, 11 October auction. The inspections began this week with a private clients' evening.
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jduke-EHk3XBmHkn

Michael and Carlene stick with Ray White as The Block Glasshouse marketing kicks off

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After 27 years of opening private gardens to the public, Open Gardens Australia has announced that its present season would be its last.
Open Gardens Australia started in Victoria before going interstate and has been behind the opening of almost 20,000 private gardens across Australia to the public.
In its heyday more than 800 gardens opened annually, but just under 500 gardens will be open this season.
Only last week <a href="/expert-insights/building/trophy-home-gardens-make-their-stamp-with-australia-post">Australia Post announced</a> that it would be featuring five beautiful private gardens from Open Gardens Australia in a new stamp issue.
<img src="/images/2014/09/05/stamps-sept-5-two.jpg" alt=""><img src="/images/2014/09/05/stamps-sept-5-one.jpg" alt="">
There were five domestic base rate (70c) stamps and products available, although the <a href="https://shop.auspost.com.au/product/open-gardens-postcard-set-1807212" target="_blank">website indicates</a> that they are currently out of stock.
<img src="/images/2014/09/05/stamps%20sept%205%20four.jpg" alt="">
Our shocked and saddened property contrarians Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok have been to many of them - certainly never taking unauthorised plant samples - and now nominate their favourite garden tour.
HE SAID:
<img src="/images/2014/03/28/jc-silhouette-7.jpg" style="float: right;">
It has to be Retford Park, established by Samuel Hordern in 1887.
James Fairfax now is the keeper of the English park and garden that features magnificent trees, mature shrubberies and hedged garden rooms, all sustainably managed using organic principles. 
Rhododendrons and azaleas at their peak in October. Century old bunya bunyas, redwoods and oaks impressed. I recall the more freshly planted Wollemi pines.
There's an impressive collection of classical and contemporary sculptures and that marvelled Guilford Bell swimming pool pavilion.
One later occasion on a private visit, Jeffrey Smart was there strolling the grounds. Sadly no painting ever emerged to immortalise the pavilion.
Of course as I've previously reported, the philanthropic former newspaperman <a href="/news/james-fairfax-plans-to-subdivide-then-gift-historic-retford-park">James Fairfax intends to gift his historic Retford Park estate</a> in the NSW Southern Highlands.
Its envisaged the Italianate 1887 residence will sit within a protected 32-hectare heritage curtilage.
It will be preserved in perpetuity for the community with some funds from the neighbouring prestige residential development being directed into a trust which will pay for the long-term upkeep of the home and gardens.
The gifting won't take place until subdivision sales take place. I notice <a href="https://landforsalebowral.com.au" target="_blank">they are progressing quite well</a>.
The Old South Road property, which sits on the southern edge of Bowral’s rapidly suburban expansion, has long sat on about 100 hectares including the land now zoned for subdivision.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/retfordmarch1one.jpg" alt="retfordmarch1one" width="470" height="468">
Under the proposal, the 29-hectare eastern part of the estate has been subdivided into rural-inspired lots ranging from 8,000 square metres to four hectares lots.
The philanthropic former chairman of the ailing publishing company that bears his family name, first advised he would bequeath Retford Park for the benefit of the public in an article written by me in 2009 in the Sydney Morning Herald. It was his idea for at least three decades.
Retford Park has been the country home of the arts patron since he paid £15,000 in 1964 for it on a then four-hectare holding.
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/retfordmarch1two.jpg" alt="retfordmarch1two" width="470" height="468">
Retford Park, with an Italianate revival-style mansion, dates back to the 1880s when it was the summer retreat of the retailing Hordern family. 
"I think Retford Park is an important part of the heritage of the Wingecarribee Shire area and provision has been made in my will for the house and the immediate surrounding land, including the garden, to be left in trust to be viewed by future generations," Mr Fairfax told me in 2009.
Listed on the register of the national estate since 1980, Retford Park takes its name from the village in Nottinghamshire, the northern England town from where Anthony and Ann Hordern immigrated in 1825.
The grounds have many heritage oaks, an enduring association with the Hordern's retailing business, whose emblem was an oak tree under which were the words: "While I live, I'll grow".
<img src="/images/stories/2013/03/retfordmarch1three.jpg" alt="retfordmarch1three" width="470" height="310">
It was first sold after Anthony's great-grandson, Sir Samuel Hordern, died in 1956, leaving an estate of $279,000. It was briefly owned by the cattle stud operator King Ranch (Australia), of which Edwina Hordern's husband, Peter Baillieu, was managing director.
In his 1991 book, Regards to Broadway, Fairfax recollected he'd had no plans to buy a country house. "But chatting to Peter Baillieu at a cocktail party in December 1963, I learned that Retford Park and 10 acres [four hectares] of land were to be sold." 
It occurred to James that it might be a suitable place for his mother to stay on her annual six month visits from England.
Fairfax, the eldest son of the late Sir Warwick Fairfax and his first wife, Betty Wilson, then set about regularly buying adjoining rural land.
He also set about enlivening the house. 
"When my offer of £15,000 for the house and 10 acres with an option to buy another 10 in three years was accepted, I went into the usual ‘What on earth have I taken on?’ syndrome, but soon recovered as I got involved in the redecoration which was being done by Leslie Walford," he recalled to Sue Rosen in 2011.
"Some six months later, in the winter of 1964, I commissioned Donald Friend to paint a mural in the dining room," he said.
Leslie Walford, who died earlier this year, said in a 2011 interview with Rosen that he recalled flying up to Mittagong with James to inspect the house.
His first impressions of it was "the garden choking the house".
"The house was a sort of cow-pat colour, a very unappealing colour. It had thick walls and narrow long slit windows and a tower, a rectangular piece of work with lots of frilly balconies, cast-iron lace and a pretty porte cochere. It had some delicate prettiness added to the strength of the architecture … it was a wonderful looking house."
Colour photos courtesy of <a href="https://www.highlifemagazine.com.au/" target="_blank">Highlife Magazine</a>, which reports on life in the Southern Highlands of Australia.
Margie Blok has her say on the next page. Please click below.
 
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<img src="/images/2014/03/28/mb-silhouette-6.jpg" style="float: left;">
SHE SAID:
It’s Markdale for me. Acknowledged as one of the great country gardens of Australia, this magnificent garden was part of the Australia’s Open Garden Scheme for many years.
The garden surrounds the homestead of Markdale, a 6,000 acre rural property at Binda, a tiny hamlet near Crookwell in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales. Owned by the Ashton family for three generations, the garden began during the 1920s and was re-designed in 1949 by Edna Walling, one of Australia’s most influential landscape designers. 
<img src="/images/2014/09/05/markdale%20sept%205%20one.jpg" alt="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
Markdale Homestead. Photo: Danny Kildare. Source: <a href="https://www.markdale.com/" target="_blank">Markdale.com</a>.
The award-winning five-acre garden is featured in many books and magazines on Australian gardening. Extensively rejuvenated in recent years, it has a wealth of beautiful features including a long pergola of blue and white wisteria, dry stone walls, dozens of specimen trees, sweeping lawns and a beautiful lake with a Chinese bridge. 
Under the Ashton family’s guidance, the garden retains its strong influence of Walling’s design and plantings. It remains substantially as she planned it - sweeping lawns merging with mown paddock, and informal curved paths leading the eye into hidden depths of the garden and then out to the hills beyond.
During her career Walling’s style changed very little, yet each of her garden designs is individual. One of her signatures is the use of stone in low fences, paths and steps to give architectural structure to a garden, and then softening it with dense planting. Her design principles also include creating unity between the garden and the house, while working with the existing landscape and existing features including slopes and trees. 
At Markdale, Walling’s design took advantage of the glorious natural scenery of paddocks and hills. Framing the garden without obscuring the beautiful views to the hills are magnificent trees including golden elms, golden ash and claret ash, silver birch, pinoaks, hawthorns, aspens, spireas, viburnums and native eucalypts.
At the same time Walling was working on the garden, the Ashtons commissioned architect Professor Leslie Wilkinson to redesign the homestead. This unique partnership of Walling and Wilkinson has never been repeated. 
<img src="/images/2014/09/05/markdale%20sept%205%20three.jpg" alt="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
Source: <a href="https://www.markdale.com/" target="_blank">Markdale.com</a>.
It was Geoff Ashton (one of four sons of James Ashton who built the original homestead) and his wife, Janet, who hired Walling and Wilkinson. For the past three decades, their son, also named Geoff, and his wife Mary, have maintained the garden, homestead and property.
They have thought about selling it on and off over the past decade, and I know would simply love for a buyer to emerge who has a passion for the property.
Although Walling’s outline of the garden has changed little, the existing beds have been replanted and developed under the skillful guidance of Mary Ashton. She and her husband took the reins at Markdale in 1983 during one of the worst droughts in recorded history. Sadly, many plants in the garden died during that drought.
Faced with the enormous task of restoring the Markdale garden, Mary extensively read and researched Walling’s methods and principles to gain insight into her original intent for its design. 
Mary took a careful and considered approach to the garden before developing layers of thick planting in beds and borders beside the stone pathways leading to various garden areas which provide a different view from each direction. 
<img src="/images/2014/09/05/markdale%20sept%205%20two.jpg" alt="" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">
Source: <a href="https://www.markdale.com/" target="_blank">Markdale.com</a>.
But the Markdale garden is as much about the use of space and architecture as it is about planting. One of its focal points is the lake, and Walling was justifiably proud of its design. 
Among documents held in the Edna Walling Collection, of the La Trobe Australian Manuscripts Collection at State Library of Victoria, is a letter written by Walling to Miss Mervyn Davis that describes her inspiration for the Markdale lake. 
Dated 7 June 1965, Walling’s letter reads: “Dear Mervyn,Re “Markdale”... The best thing I did there was to deal with the erosion in the paddock over which I was taken for a walk on Sunday morning. It was within view of the living room window and when Mrs Ashton told me of their plan to build a series of ... concrete barriers right down the deep ... It seemed to me a pretty poor idea. "Why not dam it back and have a lake" I sez!”
About two and a half hours drive from Sydney, Markdale is a must see for people with a passion for gardens.
And at the property,<a href="https://www.markdale.com" target="_blank"> the Ashton family offer s</a><a href="https://www.markdale.com" target="_blank">elf-catered bed and breakfast accommodation</a> for up to 24 people in two original 1850s stone houses and shearers quarters.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Retford Park and Markdale: Glorious gardens to thrive beyond Open Gardens' demise

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The first residential sites at Lateral Properties’ masterplanned community Peregian Breeze, on the Sunshine Coast, have been launched.
Home sites from 375 square metres to 795 square metres priced from $190,000 to $280,000 are available in this first stage of <a href="https://www.peregianbreeze.com.au%20" target="_blank">Peregian Breeze</a>.
Lot 9, for instance, is a level $195,000 block of 375 square metres of 12.5 metres wide aiming itself at first home buyers or downsizers.
Associate director of residential at Colliers International, Clinton Tezise, said that strong interest has been seen from locals.
“Land on the northern end of the Sunshine Coast has been limited in terms of choice and the location of this development is proving very attractive to the market,” said Tezise.
“The location and value for money proposition has attracted a range of buyers, from the first home owners and downsizers to young families looking to expand and build their dream home.”
There will be 399 lots at the site, which is bounded by Noose National Park and is 1.5 kilometres from the beach, he said.
This stage includes a central neighbourhood park, playground, picnic and fitness facilities, while a childcare and local convenience centre are proposed for the area with the stages to be connected by walkways and bike tracks.
“We will be working with a range of leading builders to provide a selection of house and land packages for the development, but the buyers can also choose their own builder and design to suit their individual requirements,” said Tezise.
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Peregian Breeze masterplanned community on the Sunshine Coast launched

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Monday's episode of The Block will show buyer's agent and The Block regular Frank Valentic guide his clients through the show's partially completed apartments.
Judges Shaynna Blaze, Neale Whitaker and Darren Palmer have shared their thoughts on "luxury" bathrooms, copper clad bedrooms, and unfinished rooms on The Block Glasshouse, but now it's time to hear from the people who really matter - potential buyers.
Viewers may remember buyer's agent - <a href="/expert-insights/investing/the-top-10-melbourne-hotspot-suburbs-frank-valentic">and Property Observer contributor</a> - Frank Valentic from previous seasons of the show. The agent successfully bid on the most expensive property offered last season, securing Chantelle and Steve's apartment <a href="/expert-insights/buying/the-buyers-behind-the-block-fans-v-faves">for $2.47 million</a>.
It will be interesting to see if Valentic's clients agree with the judges. Last season, rookies Steve and Chantelle beat out the other teams, despite consistently receiving negative reviews from the judges.
Contestants Michael and Carlene will be hoping that the buyers like their apartment as much as the judges have - the couple has received high marks every week, and finally secured a win with their staircase, laundry and guest powder room.
The judges were fans of their light timber stairs, which contrasted with their dark blue wall. They were also praised for their sensible and safe staircase, with multiple landings and a hand rail (pictured below).
<img src="/images/2014/09/01/mcstairs.jpg" alt="">
The laundry was a less family friendly affair - in a good way, according to the judges (pictured below). Shaynna called the powder room, with a bronze mirror, gold details and matte grey cabinetry, "sexy", full of "terrific details". Michael and Carlene received 28 out of 30 from the judges.
<img src="/images/2014/09/01/mlaundry.jpg" alt=""> Former wunderkinds Chris and Jenna were not so lucky. The couple has well and truly fallen from grace, with the third week in a row of poor comments from the judges.
This week, they were slammed on everything from their planning to their materials. Their heavy black bannisters, yet another attempt to reference the structural details of their apartment, was derided by all three of the judges (pictured below).
<img src="/images/2014/09/01/cj%20stairs.jpg" alt=""> Their laundry room and powder room was unanimously considered a failure, with an unfocussed and confusing array of materials: from small grey tiles with white grouting to glossy black laundry doors, via cheap white cabinetry (pictured below). They were awarded 20 points out of 30.
<img src="/images/2014/09/01/cjlaundry.jpg" alt=""> Maxine and Karstan, who had their confidence boosted by their first win last week, delivered a staircase that was deemed a little dated by the judges.
The glass bordered stairs, with no handrail, was called unsafe and impractical - and it wasn't redeemed by its looks (pictured below).
<img src="/images/2014/09/01/mk%20stairs.jpg" alt=""> With black timber steps and backlit wine storage under the stairs that was coupled by a polished aluminium kickboard, the entire area looked positively '90s.
When it came to the couple's laundry and powder room (pictured below), Neale felt "wholly ambivalent". The judges agreed that the area probably won't upset any potential buyers, but was unlikely to wow them either. Max and Karstan received 23 points.
<img src="/images/2014/09/01/mklaundry.jpg" alt=""> Brothers Simon and Shannon were back in everyone's good books this week, with a staircase that "plays as a piece of sculpture", according to Darren (pictured below). Neale noted the boys' "amazing sense of confidence".
<img src="/images/2014/09/01/ssstairs.jpg" alt=""> In the powder room, they presented a wide variety of surfaces - with glazed penny rounds, glossy black cabinetry and matte grey tiles (pictured below). Shaynna said the combination was "balanced", though she certainly didn't think the same of Chris and Jenna's material overload. The boys fared a good deal better, with 27 out of 30.
<img src="/images/2014/09/01/sslaundry.jpg" alt=""> Lastly, Darren and Deanne presented unfinished spaces after major setbacks with their staircase (pictured below). Darren Palmer had a wobbly attempt up the stairs but quickly retreated - though it seems Valentic's buyers are a little more fearless, with tonight's episode preview showing the buyers braving the ascent.
<img src="/images/2014/09/01/ddstairs.jpg" alt=""> Though Darren and Deanne lost major points for failing to finish a room, they still received some compliments on their wall panelling and drying rack and earned 17 out of 30. Their laundry is pictured below.
<img src="/images/2014/09/01/ddlaundry.jpg" alt=""> This week, the teams will complete their kitchens.
All pictures courtesy of Channel 9.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Will buyers agree with the judges on The Block?

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Newland have launched two more stages of their masterplanned development Seabreeze, in New South Wales' Pottsville.
The latest stages, 15 and 16, have officially been launched after a sell out of the preceding stages. This will bring 24 new lots across the 97 hectare estate.
The 38 home sites range from 495 square metres to 900 square metres. Prices range from $240,000 to $330,000.
In total, there will be 600 homes in the development, located at Pottsville-Mooball Road, as well as parks and sports fields.
Around 500 homes have already been built on the estate, and general manager for Newland Developers, Stuart Campbell, said that it would meet the demand they’re seeing in the area.
“We are currently progressing with final planning and anticipate civil works will commence on both stages in coming months, subject to weather constraints,” said Campbell.
“Each land release has been really well-received and as a result, the estate is now home to over 1,000 people across 14 residential stages,” he said.
General manager for marketing agent Oliver Hume Jillian Sheridan said that it’s likely to appeal to the owner occupier market, in particular younger first home buyers.
“We anticipate Stage 15 and 16 will answer current demand for affordable, new coastal property located close to both the Gold Coast and Tweed Coast regions,” said Sheridan.
“We are beginning to see the property market shift, and buyers are currently able to take advantage of historically low interest rates,” she said.
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Two new stages launched at Newland’s Pottsville estate

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Five years ago when Melbourne land supply was at its most constricted, there were some 90 housing estates selling land on Melbourne's outskirts. Now there are around 140. 
Land prices in Melbourne’s city-fringe housing estates continue to hover at around four-year lows, according to <a href="https://www.oliverhume.com.au/" target="_blank">Oliver Hume</a>.
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And are likely to stay that way as the Victorian state government ramps up new land releases, as Victoria’s population grows by around 2,000 people per week.
Oliver Hume research director Andrew Perkins forecasts lots released will peak above 200,000 for the first time this year.
In three years, that figure is set to treble.
Melbourne’s house and land market typically settles about 12,500 to 13,000 dwellings a year. 
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Most developers appear to be more accepting of volume over price growth – over the short-term at least, Oliver Hume suggests.
There has been some price growth on some projects in some municipalities, their recent report noted.
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The Q1, 2014 median land purchase price for the first home buyer sat at $192,000 - largely in line with the long-term trend.
"With much discussion to date focusing on the median land price, it is worth noting that the Melbourne growth area gross median land price is still around 16% below its 2010 peak," Perkins said.
Melton, Mitchell and Whittlesea are around 20% down on their peak (falls of between $36,000 - $49,000). Cardinia is surprisingly only 4% down on its peak. 
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The time on market index continues to fall. In the December quarter 2012 it took 6.7 months to sell a lot, now it takes around 3.5 months. 
Taking account of withdrawn, completed and launched projects, the fully-developed yield at the end of the quarter was just over 125,600 lots across 136 projects (down from its peak of around 145 in mid 2013). 
Some 22% of all projects are located in Whittlesea, 19% in Wyndham and 18% in Casey. On a suburb basis, 11 projects are in Doreen and 10 in Pakenham. Mernda rounds out the top three with nine. 
The gross median land price is $201,000, or $191,000 net after rebates. After rebates, Wyndham remains the most expensive land market at $214,500. 
Casey, with a net median land price of $207,500, is the second most expensive growth-area land market. Casey and Wyndham are only land markets with a net median price above $200,000. 
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Outer Melbourne land tracking at four-year lows: Oliver Hume

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Australia Post is featuring five beautiful private gardens from Open Gardens Australia in a new stamp issue.
Open Gardens Australia began life as Victoria’s Gardens Scheme in 1987, broadening to become a national program in 2000. 
Since the organisation’s beginning, it has showcased some 10,000 gardens.
Around 500 new private gardens are open to the public each season. 
It is estimated that around 200,000 adults visit the gardens annually.
There are five domestic base rate (70c) stamps and products available from 2 September.
The gardens on the stamps are: 
<ul>
<li>Cruden Farm, Victoria. The late Dame Elisabeth Murdoch established the historic garden within a working farm more than 80 years ago, engaging, among others, renowned landscape designer Edna Walling. It is a founding garden in Open Gardens Australia.</li>
<li>Mendel Garden, Western Australia. Award-winning landscape designer Janine Mendel developed this wonderful urban garden, which comprises three courtyards, with the stamp showing the lush, subtropical entry courtyard.</li>
<li>Niwajiri, South Australia. Steve Hailstone developed Niwajiri in the Adelaide Hills in the late 1980s. Displaying European, Japanese and Australian influences, Niwajiri has been meticulously planned and planted.</li>
<li>Walcott Garden, ACT. First developed in 1926 and redesigned by Helen Cohen in 2003, this water-wise garden reflects the vision of its owners, focusing on native plant species, textured foliage and an informal landscape design.</li>
<li>Wychwood, Tasmania. This is a superbly designed contemporary cool-climate garden among the rolling hills of northern Tasmania. A focal point in the tranquil garden is a seven-ring classical labyrinth, created through careful grass mowing.</li>
</ul>
 
 
The Open Gardens Australia stamps are designed by Simone Sakinofsky of Australia Post Design Studio, using photographs by Ben Wrigley (Cruden Farm), Steve Hailstone (Niwajiri), Janine Mendel (Mendel Garden), Ben Walcott (Walcott Garden) and Simon Griffiths (Wychwood).
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Trophy home gardens make their stamp with Australia Post

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Last night, The Block Glasshouse revealed the place where all the magic happens - the master bedrooms.
Each team unveiled their main bedroom and walk in robes in all their muted tone glory. As always, some fared better than others.
The judges raved over Maxine and Karsten's light and airy master offering, pictured below, awarding it 28 points out of a possible 30.
<img src="/images/2014/08/25/m1.jpeg" alt=""> Judge Shaynna Blaze was particularly pleased with the room's pair of abstract orange paintings by Thierry B., even complimenting an apparently complimentary orange pillow that sat between them, despite <a href="/news/art-styles-for-apartment-d-cor-lessons-from-the-block">her advice in previous seasons</a> not to match furnishings entirely to artwork.
Interior designer Darren Palmer was a fan of the room's bronze mirror, while Belle Magazine's Neale Whitaker declared the space simple and elegant.
If Shaynna was impressed by Thierry's (not chocolate) orange, she was positively bananas for the seemingly banal detail of a laundry chute she found in a high-end, multi-storey apartment's walk in wardrobe. But we were informed that the concept had not occurred to any other contestant this season, and so Shaynna's reaction was deemed reasonable enough.
Carlene and Michael fared almost as well, with a score of 27.5 from the judges for their room pictured below. Unfortunately, half a point can cost you $10,000 on The Block. The couple remain the only team in the competition who have failed to win a round so far.
<img src="/images/2014/08/25/mastercarlene.jpg" alt=""> Despite the pokey size of their master bedroom, with a walk in robe that really didn't meet the definition (of no fault of their own), the judges were big fans of the room, with Darren Palmer saying it felt like a hotel suite and Shaynna calling it sexy. Neale was pleased with the amount of light the room invited, thanks to its position along the apartment's light void, and praised Carlene's bed dressing skills.
In third place came Simon and Shannon, with 27 points. Judges were impressed by the amount of space available in the room, the surplus of which the boys used as a small sitting area, with two chairs and a coffee table.  The room (pictured below) also had a bench running the length of the window which was wide enough to perch on while you read the paper.
<img src="/images/2014/08/25/master%20shannon.jpeg" alt=""> Neale noted the clever architectural details the brother inject into every room, with this one featuring a false column and contrasting gyprock paneling to create visual interest on what otherwise would be a plain white space. Darren explained that those details are relatively cheap - budget renovators, take note.
The "biggest ever scandal on The Block" is barely worth mentioning - boy leaves phone under bed, records people who are already being recorded by someone else, gets in less trouble than a first time truant.
Darren and Dee were rushed away before the rooms could be revealed, due to their sick daughter. Host Scott Cam corralled the kind contestants together to help finish the room (pictured below) off in the D's absence. As he said, "family comes first, but also, The Block family comes first". Bob Day would be proud.
Darren and Dee's Block family didn't do too bad a job of it, with the judges awarding the couple 25 out of 30.
<img src="/images/2014/08/25/darrenmaster.jpg" alt=""> They were especially enamoured with the gas fireplace Darren and Dee installed in their room, a detail Shaynna said suited the couple's style thus far. What didn't suit their style was the walk in wardrobe, a tall (good) black (bad, next to their provincial white panelling) imposing (but still "sexy") offering. Unfortunately, the couple didn't pick up any points for matching their wardrobe to their neighbours' - every single walk in wardrobe this week was black.
But some wardrobes, and master bedrooms, were even more unpopular that Darren and Dee's. Chris and Jenna came in last place yet again this week, with 23 points for their room (pictured below). The couple were caught worshiping a golden calf in the form of a copper wall and neglecting other important details - for example, the exposed screws and so-called unimpressive materials in their walk in wardrobe, which Shaynna found disappointing given that Chris is a cabinet maker.
<img src="/images/2014/08/25/masterchris.jpg" alt="">
 As for the overwhelming copper wall itself, the judges weren't too keen despite its high dollar value, with Neale noting that it made the other furnishings look cheap by comparison. Though the couple tried to up the luxe with timber floors, none of the three were particularly big fans, saying that plush carpet would have been a better choice against the metallic monster.
The couple countered with an accusation that the judges care more about cushions than architectural details, with no comments on their raked ceilings or exposed trusses. They might be onto something - after all, you can't sell a ceiling on The Block Shop.
This week, the teams tackle their stairs, laundry and powder room spaces.
All pictures courtesy of Channel 9.
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The Block room reveals: Martyrs, mavericks and master bedrooms

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With property prices soaring it’s no surprise that first time buyers are increasingly looking at properties that need a little bit of work.
These “doer upper” or “renovator’s dream” properties offer huge potential for adding value through a renovation. However, novice investors and buyers do not want to be going in unsure of what they’re getting themselves in for.
Firstly, new buyers should look for properties that need what is called a ‘cosmetic’ renovation first. If you don’t know what this is, you <a href="/expert-insights/what-is-a-cosmetic-renovation-investment-terms-explained">can read our explanation here</a>, but essentially it's a light fix up that doesn't require structural changes or, usually, any council approvals. These are the best projects for novice renovators and homebuyers and the least likely to see you make poor decisions.
The pitfalls around renovating can be many and they can be very expensive. From overcapitalising, to DIY-ing where you shouldn’t, you must go in with a plan in mind.
However, it doesn’t always have to cost you a fortune. Reno Kings’ Paul Eslick suggests focusing on the following areas for bang for your buck:
<ul>
<li>A new coat of paint</li>
<li>Install a fence</li>
<li>Get your gloves on and do some light landscaping</li>
<li>Laminate and tile paint in the kitchen and bathroom (also consider replacing hardware such as taps and handles)</li>
<li>Window furnishings can make your home look a lot better, consider straight venetian blinds</li>
<li>Better lighting</li>
</ul>
These simple things should help improve any lacklustre purchase.
Renovating for Profit’s Cherie Barber treats renovating as a scientific process. Here is her eight-step process that she follows to get the maximum equity out of her properties in the quickest time possible:
<ol>
<li>
Structure and strategy - The structure in which you purchase is crucial to ensuring you are taxed efficiently at the very end of the process. Should you purchase in a trust, SMSF or company structure? - Decide on the strategy upfront: Is it buy/renovate/hold, buy/renovate/sell or something else? 
</li>
<li>
Suburb due diligence - Investors must know suburbs down to a street level. Pointing to her target suburb of <a href="/news">Balmain</a>, she explained that she knows where the negative and positive price pockets are, or where the prices change, and the reasons for this. - Ensure you're targeting the right type of suburb for the renovation you intend to undertake. Middle ring and outer areas tend to suit cosmetic renovations, while inner city areas tend to favour structural. 
</li>
<li>
Pricing due diligence - The real estate agent's job is to make the vendor money, never forget this.  - Ensure you are looking at true comparables - your suburb due diligence should assist you with this process. 
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<li>
Property due diligence - Ensure you're not purchasing a property with major defects you cannot rectify under your budget (think about the hidden problems, such as termite damage or bad wiring). - Check that the property stacks up for the majority of buyers in the area. Your demographic is crucial, and you should be thinking about a property as a product. - Calling council and a number of other local experts will save you money in the long run. 
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<li>
Acquire - The purchasing process and negotiation can be crucial for getting the price right. Ensure you enter in unemotionally and knowing the value (pricing due diligence). - There are a number of different conditions, requests for early access and similar that can be asked for at this part in the process. 
</li>
<li>
Council approval (usually for structural renovations) - The earlier this part of the process is started the better. Investors should be prepared for councils to take longer than is often stated on their websites. - To get an idea of how long the process might take, check online and see what has already been approved and the time frames. Expect it to take longer. 
</li>
<li>
Renovate - Get some good tradespeople and treat them well. It can often take a number of renovations to get your team selected. - Keep organised, keep timelines and ensure effective communication. - Avoid being the DIY-er unless you have done it before effectively. 
</li>
<li>
Sell/Rent - While you should have been clear on which of these approaches you were going to take since step one, it's now important to ensure you approach the best real estate agents and property managers for the job. - Treat choosing agents as an interview process, rather than solely basing it on personality. - Ensure that at any opens, the changes you have made to that process are highly visible and communicated to potential tenants/purchasers.
</li>
</ol>
You might also want to read <a href="/expert-insights/building/twelve-key-points-to-consider-before-you-start-home-renovations">Lisa Montgomery’s 12 things to consider before you start your home renovations</a>.
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Looking for a “renovator’s dream”? Here’s what you need to know first

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Sydney’s south-west site The Hermitage’s latest land release Gabriel’s Run has secured a sell out of the land lots in their Gledswood Hills release.
More than 650 registrations of interest were received for the launch, said Sekisui House sales and customer relations manager for <a href="https://www.thehermitagesydney.com.au" target="_blank">The Hermitage</a>, Craig Barnes.
“Sekisui House has and continues to experience an unprecedented demand for land at The Hermitage which is showing no signs of slowing,” said Barnes.
He said that each release consistently received between 300 and 500 registrations of interest.
In this latest release, lots ranged from 476 square metres to 760 square metres, priced from $285,000 to $385,000.
Barnes said that the next land release is expected later in the year.
At present, The Hermitage includes the largest display village in Sydney’s south-west, HomeWorld. Over 700 lots have sold since its March 2012 launch.
Including Gabriel’s Run there are another three precincts – Hardy’s Rise, Chisholm’s Corner and Donohue’s View.
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