The new <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/yarraville-green-42-stephen-street-yarraville-vic-3013">Yarraville Green</a> development in Melbourne's inner west is showing that landscaping can be just as influential as architecture, with buyers responding strongly to the garden-first approach adopted from the outset by developer Excelon Projects and the project's design team.

Excelon appointed Six Degrees Architects and landscape architects SBLA to work collaboratively on the development, with a brief to create "a sustainable, design-led building with a focus on community."

That approach has resonated with buyers. According to Next Chapter Director Tom Hirini, who is leading the sales campaign, the landscaped communal garden has become one of the project's defining features, alongside its boutique scale and European-inspired cluster housing concept.

Local downsizers, right-sizers and established families already living in Yarraville and surrounding suburbs have accounted for the majority of purchasers.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297740]

Yarraville Green will comprise 53 homes, including apartments and townhomes, arranged around the shared central garden to maximise connections to the landscaped open space. Parking has been moved underground, allowing the ground plane to be dedicated to greenery, pedestrian movement and communal spaces.

The landscape extends well beyond passive planting. Productive garden beds, a pergola, communal gathering spaces, garden sheds and a pet wash have all been integrated into the masterplan, creating spaces designed to encourage everyday interaction between residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297741]

The interiors continue Excelon's focus on craftsmanship, incorporating bespoke elements by Melbourne artisans including leadlight detailing by Adadaz, hand-turned timber hardware by Auburn Woodturning and blown-glass lighting by Ruth Allen.

Sustainability has also been embedded throughout the project, with Yarraville Green targeting an average 7-star NatHERS energy rating through passive design principles, rooftop solar servicing common areas and rainwater harvesting for landscape irrigation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144913 project_image_fid=297735]

Construction continues to progress at Yarraville Green, with structural works well underway and framing works approaching completion under builder Balmain &amp; Co. The project remains on track for completion in mid-2027.

Apartments at Yarraville Green are currently priced from $625,000, while townhomes start from $1.4 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144913]

Joel Robinson

Garden-led design drives buyer demand at Yarraville Green

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]

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 41-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 41-storey tower, which has 229 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

Auction

<html><body>
A late Victorian worker’s cottage in Melbourne's Abbotsford has been listed for October 31 auction.
More than $800,000 is expected by its Biggin &amp; Scott listing agents Andrew Crotty and Claire Parkes.
The freestanding <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-abbotsford-120912905" target="_blank">106 Park Street</a> home has been transformed with its new living areas taking advantage of the six metre width and high ceilings. 
It is lit by skylights and doors that lead to a checkerboard-paved courtyard. 
There are two bedrooms, both with built-in robes. There is a central modern bathroom.
The 138 sqm block has potential for off-street parking from the rear lane.
CoreLogic RP Data puts the<a href="/news"> suburb house median at $775,000</a>.
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Abbotsford freestanding cottage for October auction

<html><body>
Australian Winter Olympics aerial ski champion Alisa Camplin failed to sell her Hawthorn home at weekend auction.
The renovated weatherboard Victorian home at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/8-colvin-grove-hawthorn/Property-Details-buy-residential-9593102" target="_blank">8 Colvin Grove</a> was her first home.
More than $2 million was tipped for the double fronted four bedroom home which was passed in on a $2.05 million vendor bid.
It last traded at $1,325,000 in 2008.
Melbourne notched up a clearance rate of 71% on the weekend compared to 73% last weekend.
The 71% matched the same weekend last year, <a href="/news">according to the REIV</a>.
 
TOP 5 HOUSES
1. 2-4 Mangarra Road, Canterbury $5,515,000
2. 11 Gould Street, Brighton $3,900,000
3. 28 Mangarra Road, Canterbury $3,650,000
4. 2 Hyton Crescent, Kew $3,650,000
5. 84 Victoria Road, Hawthorn East $3,490,000
 
TOP 5 BARGAIN HOUSES
1. 16 Mackellar Drive, Roxburgh Park $291,000
2. 122 Moor Park Drive, Craigieburn $325,000
3. 55 Camms Road, Cranbourne $331,000
4. 9 Brampton Close, Craigieburn $355,000
5. 68 Serenity Way, South Morang $367,500
  
TOP 5 APARTMENTS
1. E153/85 Rouse Street, Port Melbourne $2,110,000
2. 12/13 Denbigh Road, Armadale $1,705,000
3. 2A Hartington Street, Elsternwick $1,660,000
4. 5/333 Beach Road, Black Rock $1,610,000
5. 1/18 St Georges Crescent, Ashburton $1,605,000
 
TOP 5 BARGAIN APARTMENTS
1. B29/1-5 Grantham Street, Brunswick West $150,000
2. 4/9 Waratah Avenue, Glen Huntly $263,000
3. 8/396 Murray Road, Preston $266,000
4. 8/2-4 Salmon Street, Mentone $275,000
5. 6/87 Alma Road, St Kilda $275,000
Source: <a href="https://www.reiv.com.au/home" target="_blank">REIV</a>
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Ski champion Alisa Camplin passes in Hawthorn cottage as Melbourne clearance rate eases

<html><body>
Melbourne’s spring market bonanza on October 24-25 is on track to challenge an auction record when 1,683 homes go under the hammer.
The majority of the auctions – 1,550 - are on Saturday.
The weekend is expected to go close to, and possibly exceed, the all-time auction record for a Melbourne weekend. The record was set on the corresponding pre-Melbourne Cup weekend last year (October 25-26) when 1,682 auctions were held.
While the number might go close to the all-time weekend auction record, it may fall just shy of the Saturday record - on October 25 last year - when more than 1,600 auctions were held.
“The high auction levels reflect the strength of the local market and continuing buyer demand for homes across the city,” REIV chief executive officer Enzo Raimondo said. 
“This level of auction activity cements the city’s reputation as Australia’s auction capital.” 
Raimondo said the strong spring season began in mid-August this year, several weeks earlier than last year, and has remained high since then.
Scheduled auctions for the Melbourne Cup weekend are the highest on record, up more than 100 over the same period last year.
The following weekend of November 7- 8 is also gearing up to be a Super Saturday.
Raimondo said these solid auction numbers follow last weekend’s strong results which had 1,080 auctions with a clearance rate of 74 per cent.
Auctions are also gaining in popularity in areas traditionally the domain of private sale. In Melbourne’s outer suburbs, numbers are up 19 per cent on the same period last year, while auction sales are up 37 per cent.
“Melbourne has some of the highest auction numbers not only in Australia, but worldwide. In the current buoyant housing market, buyer demand is encouraging more vendors to sell their home under the hammer,” Raimondo said.
 Melbourne Auction Wrap – For 24/25 October 2015 
This weekend: Total number of auctions this weekend: 1,600+ auctions
This year: Total number of auctions (to 18 Oct): 31,679 @ 77% clearance rate
Previous record auction weekend: 1,682 auctions on week ending 25-26 Oct 2015
Top auction suburbs in Melbourne - this weekend:
<table class="t1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
Suburb
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
Number of Auctions
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
 
</td>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
 
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
GLEN WAVERLEY
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
30
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
MOUNT WAVERLEY
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
27
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
GLEN IRIS
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
24
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
RESERVOIR
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
24
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
HAWTHORN
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
22
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
SOUTH YARRA
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
22
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
PRAHRAN
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
22
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
ELWOOD
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
20
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
ST KILDA
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
20
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
BENTLEIGH EAST
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
19
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
BALWYN NORTH
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
19
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
HAWTHORN EAST
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
19
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
CAMBERWELL
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
19
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
DONCASTER EAST
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
18
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
PRESTON
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
18
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
ST KILDA EAST
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
17
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
BRIGHTON
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
17
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
NORTHCOTE
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
16
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
KEW
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
16
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
RICHMOND
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
16
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td1" valign="middle">
 
</td>
<td class="td1" colspan="3" valign="middle">
 
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
 
Source: <a href="https://www.reiv.com.au/" target="_blank">REIV</a>
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Photo finish in Melbourne's bonanza auction weekend: all time REIV record looms

<html><body>
Despite a falling auction clearance rate, the volume of auctions being held across the combined capital cities and in particular, Melbourne, is rising.
Last week, the final auction clearance rate fell to 67.4% across 2,858 capital city auctions, while this week CoreLogic RP Data is expecting there to be just over 3,000 auctions held across the combined capital cities.
Melbourne will be the busiest city by far this week, with 1,710 auctions expected, indicating the busiest week for the city this year, but the auction market won’t be as busy as it was at the same time last year, when over the week 1,837 Melbourne homes were taken under the hammer. Last week, Melbourne was the strongest performing capital city market with both the highest volume of auctions (1,398) and the highest clearance rate (72.7%).
Notably, Melbourne’s auction performance last week was much stronger than Sydney, with the city recording its lowest clearance rate since early 2013 at 63.7%, representing a substantial fall from the previous week (69.6%). This week, Sydney is expecting 996 auctions to be held, relatively similar to last year when 961 Sydney homes were auctioned.
Auction markets will be busier in Brisbane (213), Adelaide (109) and Perth (35) this week compared to last week when 145, 93 and 16 auctions were held respectively. Canberra’s auction market activity will slow down this week, with 60 auctions expected, compared to 86 the previous week.
This week, the busiest individual suburbs for auctions are all in Victoria:
– Glen Waverley (30 auctions)
– Reservoir (23 auctions)
– Mount Waverley (22 auctions)
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smiller-vwPjRHTkST

Clearance rate falling, auction activity rising: CoreLogic RP Data's Shana Miller

<html><body>
Melbourne had a preliminary auction clearance rate of 73.6% from 1,193 reported auctions, according to CoreLogic RP Data's Property Market Indicator Summary for the week ending 18 October.
Melbourne's inner region reported the highest number of auctions at 287, with a preliminary clearance rate of 73% had the highest number of auctions this week. The Outer East region had preliminary clearance rate of 82.1%.
<a href="/images/2015/10/19/Screen%20Shot%202015-10-19%20at%201.01.23%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
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Outer East Melbourne nets clearance rate of 82.1%: CoreLogic RP Data

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The preliminary clearance rate across the combined capital cities is below 70% for the 5th week in a row, according to CoreLogic RP Data.
According to CoreLogic RP Data's Market Summary for the week ending 18 October 2015, some 2,817 auctions  were held, down from last week's 3,016 properties.
The clearance rate was 68.6% this time last year, with smaller auction volumes.
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National auction clearance rate below 70%: CoreLogic RP Data

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It was another busy week for auctions across the combined capital cities with 2,817 auctions held after the previous week saw 3,016 properties taken to auction; the highest volumes have been since March this year. 
The preliminary clearance rate of 69.3% has remained below 70% for the 5th week in a row, down from 69.5% last week. This time last year, the clearance rate was 68.6%, although volumes were lower with only 2,449 auctions held.
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In Melbourne, Australia’s largest auction market, 73.6% of the 1,193 reported auctions sold this week. There were 1,390 auctions held across the city this week, similar to last week, when there were 1,397 auctions and the final auction clearance rate was 73.4%. In comparison, over the same week last year, there were 1,167 auctions held with a clearance rate of 71.7 per cent. The Inner region of Melbourne had the highest number of auctions this week (287), with a preliminary clearance rate of 73 per cent. Meanwhile, the strongest clearance rate was recorded across the Outer East region, where 82.1 per cent of homes taken to auction sold based on the preliminary results.
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Across Sydney, 1,074 homes were taken to auction this week with a preliminary clearance rate of 66.6 per cent across 830 reported results, the lowest clearance rate for the year and also the third week in a row where Sydney’s clearance rate has been below 70 per cent. The last time the clearance rate was this low was the first week of December 2014 (66.1). Last week, the final clearance rate for the city was 69.6 per cent, across 1,197 auctions. One year ago, 929 Sydney homes were taken to auction and the clearance rate was 72 per cent. This week, the performance across Sydney’s individual sub regions was varied. Across the Outer South West region, where 21 results have been reported so far, the preliminary clearance rate was 47.6 per cent, while across the Inner West (80 per cent) and the Eastern Suburbs (76.8 per cent), the success rate of reported auctions was much higher.
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Brisbane was host to 146 auctions this week, down from 186 last week, and the preliminary clearance rate was 53.2 per cent, down slightly from 53.8 per cent over the previous week. At the same time last year, 46 per cent of the 159 auctions held were successful. In the Gold Coast, a clearance rate of 56.5 per cent was recorded across 23 results.
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A total of 93 Adelaide homes were auctioned this week and the preliminary auction clearance rate of 72.1 per cent is higher than the 64 per cent from the previous week across 127 auctions. One year ago, Adelaide’s clearance rate was a lower 53.3 per cent across 103 auctions.
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In Perth, just 16 auctions were held this week. Of the 8 results reported toCoreLogic RP Data so far, only 2 have been successful. Last week, the final auction clearance rate for Perth was 37.9 per cent across 34 auctions.
Across Canberra a total of 82 auctions were held this week, up from 68 last week and 55 at the same time last year. Canberra’s preliminary clearance rate of 67.3 per cent is stronger than it was the previous week (62.1 per cent).
Of the 12 Tasmanian auction results reported so far this week, 7 sales have been recorded.
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Clearance rate below 70% for the fifth week running: CoreLogic RP Data's Shana Miller

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Grunberg, a historic Richmond cottage, with a Heritage Victoria plaque since 1988, was sold after its single bid weekend auction.
No price has been revealed after being passed in at $1.7 million.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/36-lesney-street-richmond/Property-Details-buy-residential-9556898" target="_blank">The 36 Lesney Street</a> country-style home, with a 120 year-old magnolia tree, was built in 1853.
It was marketed as a wonderful example of gold-rush era architecture with Jellis Craig auctioneer Andrew Macmillan saying homes like this were mostly found in Ballarat and Castlemaine. 
It last traded at $350,000 in 1989.
It takes its name from Friedrich and Caroline Grunbeerg who arrived in Australia aboard the Godeffroy in February 1849.
They were from Altona in Holstein and both aged 31. They had been married on 1 June 1844, but only after receiving special approval to do so from King Christian 8th of Denmark, who then ruled Holstein.
The King’s permission was required as Friedrich, son of Christian Johann Michael Grünberg, tailor and Elisabeth Anna Agneta (née Langbehn), was a commoner, whereas Caroline was of noble birth.
Caroline Friedericke von Schimmelmann, born 15 February 1817, was the daughter of Graf Carl von Schimmelmann and Ilsabe Catherina (née Dablestein).
The couple married in Caroline’s family home, the Castle Ahrenburg.
Friedrich Grünberg was an original landholder at Westgarthtown, or Dry Creek, as it was then known. 
To legally purchase his land, Friedrich had been naturalized as a New South Wales citizen in 1851, his occupation given as carpenter.
In 1852, Friedrich bought an acre of land at Richmond for £25/12/- (Lots 3 &amp; 4, Portion 8, Parish of Jika Jika).
The access road he created was first known as Gruenberg Street, but by the mid 1860s changed to Lesney Street. 
Friedrich died at Altona in Holstein in 1887, aged 69, during a visit to the then Prussian province.
Caroline returned to Australia and lived at 32 Lesney Street until her death in 1902 aged 85. 
Caroline’s cottages at 30 and 32 Lesney Street were left to the Ahrensburg church, but only after lifetime possession by her great-nephews Christian Frederick Grünberg and George Gottsleben Grünberg, the sons of Christian Grünberg who arrived in Australia in 1863. 
George died in 1916 but Christian lived on until 1944. Caroline’s estate was finally settled in 1953 when it was granted exemption from the Enemy Property Regulations securing £1,270 from the sale of the cottages.
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Richmond 1853 Grunberg cottage sells

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Selling before auction is happening more across Sydney.
Botany headed the list during September
Sold before auction (September APM)
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 Suburb
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Sold before
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Botany
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66%
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Bondi
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<td class="td4" valign="middle">
65%
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<td class="td3" valign="middle">
Killara
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<td class="td4" valign="middle">
61%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td3" valign="middle">
St Ives Chase
</td>
<td class="td4" valign="middle">
61%
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td3" valign="middle">
Bondi Beach
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<td class="td4" valign="middle">
60%
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<td class="td3" valign="middle">
Wollstonecraft
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57%
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Neutral Bay
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56%
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<td class="td3" valign="middle">
Sydney
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54%
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Mona Vale
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53%
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Manly
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53%
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With the market declining, many anxious agents are advising vendors to take the best pre-auction offer rather than risk falling flat on auction day.
The trend has turned a little away from the heat of the boom when it was long suffering would-be buyers putting in bullish offers that likely exceeded anything from rivals on auction day.
Auctioneer Rocky Bartolotto said while a few properties that featured bigger land size and development secured sensational results on the weekend, many of the day's other results had one to two registered bidders as the average bidders per property dropped to an average of just over 3 per property. 
<div>"The lower buyer numbers is attributed to higher selection of property available this Spring," he said. </div>
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Selling before auction takes off across Sydney: APM

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Across the combined capital cities, 2,904 auctions are scheduled this week after 3,016 residential homes were taken to auction the previous week.
The clearance rate last week improved slightly, up from 68.2% to 69.5%, demonstrating that clearance rates are similar to the levels seen at the same time on year ago (67.8%).
This week, it is expected that Melbourne auction volumes will rise, while Sydney will be host to less auctions than last week. In Melbourne, 1,481 residential auctions will be held, compared to 1,397 last week and a significantly lower 1,167 one year ago. Meanwhile, there are 1,063 homes being taken to auction in Sydney this week, compared to 1,197 last week and 929 one year ago.
Adelaide, Brisbane and Perth will all see a lower number of auctions this week compared to last week and similarly, lower than they were one year ago:
Adelaide:         88 this week                127 last week              103 last year Brisbane:       149 this week                186 last week              159 last year Perth:              16 this week                  34 last week               23 last year
On the other hand, Canberra is expecting 92 auctions this week which is higher than both last week (68) and last year (55).
This week, the top 10 busiest suburbs for auctions are all located in Victoria. Brighton and Reservoir are set to be the busiest, where 21 auctions will be held and Cheltenham, will host 19 auctions this week.
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