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

Joel Robinson

The Eveleigh brings house-like apartments to Broadbeach

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sydney

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The Sydney-based Crown Group has sold the final apartment in its seven-tower 653-apartment development - Top Ryde City Living.
It was a one bedroom apartment.
More than 600 residents now occupy the resort-style development, positioned on the vantage point above Top Ryde City Shopping Centre with views to the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Blue Mountains and North Shore.
Crown Group Chief Executive Officer Iwan Sunito said the sale of the final apartment at Top Ryde City Living was an important milestone for Crown Group.
“For a development of this scale to sell out so shortly after completion is a testament to the high quality and luxury appeal we have worked to deliver,” he said.
Completed in August 2014, Sunito said Top Ryde City Living’s owners whom purchased early had experienced a "significant increase" in the value of their apartments.
One bedroom apartments initially sold for about $350,000 when Top Ryde City Living’s first apartments were offered for sale in 2011, while a one bedroom plus study apartment sold this month for $754,000.
Crown Group’s director of sales and marketing Adam Sparkes said Top Ryde City Living’s success came after a quick response to new apartments at every new release over the three-year timeframe given access to transport links, education, workplace hubs and retail.
Top Ryde City Living has been recognised by some of the most sought-after awards in the industry, most recently being named winner of best Outdoor Project at the 2014 HIA-CSR NSW Housing and Kitchen &amp; Bathroom Awards.
Its other accolades include 2013 Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) High Density Development Award, 2013 UDIA NSW President’s award and Master Builders Association Excellence in Housing award 2013.
The final stage of Top Ryde City Living, named Viva by Crown was launched for sale in August 2013.
Top Ryde City Living began construction of its seven towers in late 2010.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Crown secures Top Ryde City Living sellout

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Westpac boss-in-waiting Brian Hartzer has a new Vaucluse abode.
It is the trophy mansion designed by architect Michael Dysart with impressive rooftop entertaining space.
Recent land title settlement records show a $12.75 million purchase in his wife, Georgiana's name.
It had been offered through Sotheby's International by ISS Australia chief executive Dane Hudson.
Hudson had commissioned<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-vaucluse-116207307" target="_blank"> </a>the three-storey residence following his 2003 purchase for $5.25 million of the cul-de-sac 1,233 square metre parcel of land
It has views of the ocean, harbour, Bridge and Opera House, spanning 767 square metres of living space over three levels. It has five en suite bedrooms and seven bathrooms within parents', childrens' and guest wings. Hartzer and his wife share six children aged between 7 and 16.
The gardens designed by Jane Coleman come with gas-heated pool and BBQ station.
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Westpac boss Brian Hartzer's $12 million Vaucluse home

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More than $21 million has reportedly been paid off the plan for a penthouse in the Pacifici Bondi development.
The purchase is in a company name linked to Andrew Roberts, the former chief executive of Multiplex and the son of the late John Roberts, who founded the construction company.
The off the plan penthouse is adjacent to the space that set the previous record in June last year at $21 million.
It was reportedly bought by Will Vicars of Caledonia Investments who bought adjoining penthouses for $10.1 million and $10.9 million and is amalgamating them.
The developers, Allen Linz, of Rebel Property Group, and Eduard Litver, of Capit.el Group, then commissioned this two-storey "lighthouse" covering almost 900 square metres.
The four bedroom apartment, designed by Burley Katon Halliday has 40 metres of Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach frontage.
The Vicars top floor space in<a href="https://www.pacificbondibeach.com.au/Overview/" target="_blank"> the redevelopment of the Swiss Grand Hotel</a> will have a total size of 975 square metres, including a 468 square metre terrace fronting the beach.
The Roberts apartment was set to have a slightly larger internal space which initially came with $25 million to $29 million plus hopes.
The prior Sydney top apartment sale which took place in 2008 for a 12th-floor unit in the Bennelong development at East Circular Quay which fetched $16.8 million when bought by the Moran health care family. It was their third adjoining unit in the complex.
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Another $21 million Bondi Beach off the plan penthouse sale

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Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife, Lady Cosgrove, failed to sell their Neutral Bay home amid today's saturated weekend auction offering.
It has now been listed for private treaty sale after the $2.1 million vendor bid, pulled from auction without any buyer bidding.
There was a 74% overall Sydney clearance rate today, which mirrored last weekend's revised lower 74% clearance rate.
With around 1170 offerings, the Melbourne result was 72% today matching last weekend's revised 72% success rate.
Sydney's house auction median was $1.1 million and it was $810,000 in Melbourne.
The top sale around the nation was in Elwood where $6.55 million was paid for 6 Dickens Street, the 1890s property,Trefusis, which was sold by interests associated with DFO founder and former chief executive Geoff Porz. It cost $3.5 million in 2009 before its renovation. Agent Abercromby's were saying $5 million plus.
Sydney's top reported sale was 20 Agnes Street, Strathfield at $3.45 million.
The Cosgrove listing following the couple's recent move to their official, vice-regal residences, nearby Admiralty House in Kirribilli and Government House in Canberra.
McGrath Estate Agents had expected $2.1 million plus for the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-neutral-bay-nsw-2089/240264" target="_blank">three-storey Spruson Street semi</a>.
They paid $1.95 million in 2007, two years after Sir Peter ended his term as the Defence Force chief.
They were in Brisbane at the time of the auction having greeted the US President Barack Obama on his arrival to the G20.
It was among the 882 listings across Sydney today, of which 106 were on the lower north shore.
The total number of Melbourne auctions held so far this year is 17 per cent higher than the same time last year, with 32,874 auctions held in the year to date, according to the REIV CEO Enzo Raimondo.
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*An earlier report suggested the Neutral Bay property had been pulled from auction altogether.
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Governor-General Peter Cosgrove leads the retreat with unsold offering amid saturated auction weekends

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Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife, Lady Cosgrove, headline the weekend auction offerings with their Neutral Bay home listed following the couple's recent move to their official, vice-regal residences, nearby Admiralty House in Kirribilli and Government House in Canberra.
McGrath Estate Agents expect $2.1 million plus for the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-neutral-bay-nsw-2089/240264" target="_blank">three-storey Spruson Street semi</a>.
They paid $1.95 million in 2007, two years after Sir Peter ended his term as the Defence Force chief.
"To be asked to sell the Governor-General's home, in this industry there's no greater honour," said the listing agent Piers van Hamberg, of McGrath Estate Agents.
Australian Property Monitors says Sydney will host 882 homes this weekend.
It is down on last weekend’s 943 but higher than the 767 conducted over the same weekend a year ago.
"Sydney is set to clearly smash the all-time monthly record for auctions this November with over 5,000 properties listed," Australian Property Monitors' senior economist Andrew Wilson said.
Sydney weekend auction market dropped last Saturday recording the lowest clearance rate since the first weekend of July. The initial 75.5% result was well down on the previous weekend’s strong 82.4% rate and also below the 83.7% recorded over the same weekend last year.
"High auctions numbers over the past month however may be impacting the local market with three out of the last five weekends below the 80% weekend benchmark," Wilson said.
 The four-weekend average clearance rate now stands at 79.5%, compared to 82% over the previous four-weekend period. This is the first time this spring the Sydney four-weekend average has dipped below 80%.
Sydney’s west was the leading suburban region last weekend with a strong 85.7% clearance rate. The south was next best with 82.3% with all other regions below 80% led by the inner west with 79.8% and Canterbury Bankstown and the northern beaches each with 75.7%. The city and east reported the lowest regional clearance rate at the weekend with 69.8%.  
The inner west will again host the most number of auctions this weekend with 139 followed by the upper north shore with 115, the south 114, the lower north 106, the city and east 100, the west 73, the northern beaches 54 and Canterbury-Bankstown with 53 auctions scheduled.
The most popular suburb for auctions this weekend in Sydney is again Mosman on the lower north shore with 18 auctions listed. Next highest is Castle Hill in the north west with 14 followed by St Ives on the upper north shore with 12, Leichhardt in the inner west with 10, Paddington in the city and east with nine and a number of suburbs with 8 auctions including Cremorne on the lower north shore, Dulwich Hill in the inner west, Hunters Hill on the lower north shore, Manly on the northern beaches and Killara on the upper north shore
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Governor-General Peter Cosgrove leads Sydney weekend auctions

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The Rose Bay property that was once headquarters of Jodhi Meares fashion label has been sold at Cooley auction.
It was originally a barn for the Rose Bay dairy­.
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom residence and office space at <a href="https://www.theagencyco.com/1807401/" target="_blank">5 Roberts Street</a> been listed with Daniel Baran and Reece Coleman at The Agency.
The first-floor features a large open plan living and dining area, kitchen with 5 metre-long stainless steel benchtop, indoor fish pond and ornate Balinese timber doors.
In 2006 its ground floor was transformed from a 16-car garage to modern offices with boardroom.
It was bought by the Otton family in 2006 for $2.35 million.
It had price expectations around $3.5 million.
No price has been revealed for the registered bidder only auction.
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Rose Bay warehouse style offering snapped up

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Hilton Worldwide intends putting its Sydney hotel on the market.
JLL has been appointed to sell the asset in 2015.
Price expectations are for well over $450 million as offshore interest surges for hotel assets in Australia.
It has 579 rooms at 488 George Street, opposite Sydney’s Queen ­Victoria Building.
Hilton Worldwide is a public company owned in part by private equity group Blackstone.
The newly refurbished Hilton has 23 meeting rooms, 4,000 square metre of food and beverage space and an 25 metre indoor pool.
Its lead restaurant is Luke Mangan's Glass.
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Sydney Hilton for sale with price expectations in excess of $450 million

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The Sydney market shows no signs of slowing down with vendors and buyers showing equal enthusiasm in the nation’s largest property market. Despite the increase in numbers of would-be vendors rushing to schedule a pre-Christmas auction, we are seeing a consistently high clearance rate week after week.
Notwithstanding one weekend failing to reach the magic 80% clearance rate, October continued with some strong individual results across all pockets of the city. Given these strong results it should also be largely unsurprising that the variance between real estate agents’ price guides and the eventual sales prices also remains significant with the trend of underquoting appearing to continue unabated. 
Intelligent Property Services (IPS) has reported for several months now on the consistent manner with which prospective buyers are being drawn to properties with enticingly low price guides and October has been no different.
With 32 auctions monitored the stats show an average variance of some 14.34%. Irrespective of the broad geographic spread in this month’s sample (Mosman to Canterbury) there were fairly similar results across the board. While slightly less than last month (we reported a 15.4% variance for September) some results simply demonstrate the depth of pent up demand across the Sydney market.
Whilst others may well simply suggest some creative price guides set by certain selling agents. One property that demonstrates this epidemic can be seen at 7/2-6 Patrick Street, North Willoughby. Despite a comparable unit selling in the block in 2013 for $860,000 it was listed with a price guide of $750,000, which was then revised to $790,000. With an eventual sale price of $980,000 – 19% variance on the agent’s original guide – it’s little wonder that buyers continue to experience frustration at every turn during their property search.
We suspect there’s no easy solution to this. Whilst Queensland may have banned the publication of auction price guides and some in NSW are calling for auction reserve prices to be published prior to auction in order to provide a more transparent process, we’re quite sure that Sydney buyers would welcome a bit more pricing accuracy from the very same sales agents who openly advertise the fact they’re the area “experts”.
Click to open in new window:
<a href="/images/2014/11/12/ramon-nov-12-one.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/11/12/ramon-nov-12-one.jpg" alt=""></a> 
In September we noted it should come as little surprise that the level of underquoting by sales agents has continued into the busy spring selling season. 
The results are fairly consistent from last month’s findings. In August IPS reported that the average variance between the quoted price and sales price at auction was 17.6%. For September 2014 we have monitored a total of 27 sales and found agents are underestimating their properties by an average of 15.14%. 
As always buyers need to factor this into their thinking and, ultimately, conduct their own research as to the likely market value of any property being considered for purchase. We see no particular trend from suburb to suburb (with auctions from Millers Point to Earlwood monitored) and sales agencies, both big and small, are all guilty – inadvertently or by design – of providing enticingly low price guides to prospective buyers. 
The biggest variation recorded this month was 42% under for a run-down warehouse at 164-166 Wilson Street, Newtown in Sydney’s inner west. Even towards the tail end of the sales campaign a price guide of $1 million plus was being given despite the property selling for $1,725,000.
Another prime example of unfairly building up buyers’ expectations was at 7/40 Terrace Road, Dulwich Hill. The price guide of “$420,000 plus” for a renovated two bedroom, one bathroom, one car strata apartment in popular Dulwich Hill was always going to attract the crowds. More than 92 people attended the first open house on Saturday and, by Tuesday the agent had received between 15 and 20 written offers from hopeful buyers. Current interest is reported to be around $530,000, which is more than 26% above the original guide.
It just goes to show, unfortunately for buyers, that this experience is not limited to the auction process alone.
With pent up buyer demand increasing off the back of abnormally low spring stock volumes, we expect this practice will continue to frustrate and confuse buyers making the entire buying process all the more challenging.
Ramon Mitchell is the general manager of <a href="https://www.ipsg.com.au" target="_blank">Intelligent Property Services</a>, a specialist residential property advisory firm with buyers advocacy division.
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RamonMitchell-pSgrKyb4ZZ

Add 14% to Sydney spring auction price guidance: Intelligent Property Services

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The Sydney PR queen Roxy Jacenko and her husband, Oliver Curtis, have sold their Woollahra residence for $8 million plus.
It was an offer too good to refuse since they bought the four-bedroom house for $6.6 million in 2011.
It was sold off-market by a former Kambala school friend estate agent, <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/diane-wilson/real-estate-agent/dw0905191055/" target="_blank">Diane Wilson</a>. 
The Edward Street family home was bought in March 2011 from the rag-trading Karpin family.
The then newly built house was on a 468 square metre block that cost $5.28 million in 2007. 
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The four-bedroom, four-bathroom family home (pictured above before makeover) has since been decorated by the society pages designer Blainey North.
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No buying documents have yet appeared on title when Property Observer checked on Monday this week, with delayed settlement terms seemingly in place.
The AFR Rear Window column confirmed the sale. Property Observer understands around $8.25 million was secured.
Oliver is<a href="https://www.afr.com/p/national/banker_oliver_curtis_liked_the_easy_2jeiA3TdpdA2412zP8NXxJ" target="_blank"> </a>facing charges of insider trading, which after a recent delay, will be heard early next year.
Roxy has been telling friends she would like to have a single-storey Sydney home and possibly a Southern Highlands weekender.<a href="https://www.afr.com/p/markets/oliver_curtis_trial_delayed_5pduv5MI8qbjKPEDhsr2lJ" target="_blank"> </a>
The celebrity publicist Roxy Jacenko has recently spent $2.66 million to buy commercial offices in Paddington with the purchase of 7-13 Elizabeth Street, mooted as new headquarters.
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Roxy Jacenko and Oliver Curtis sell Woollahra trophy home

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As of today, Sydney’s median asking price has pushed past the $1 million benchmark. This figure looks at freestanding houses, which includes terraces but excludes townhouses.
In this morning's update, <a href="https://www.sqmresearch.com.au/" target="_blank">SQM Research</a>’s Louis Christopher said that the median asking price for houses is now $1,005,800.
“Right now it would be impossible to purchase a free standing house in Sydney’s inner ring for under a million dollars, and will become increasingly difficult to purchase a free standing house in Sydney’s middle ring for under a million dollars," said Christopher. 
In July 2013 the median asking price moved into the $900,000 plus bracket.
The median asking price for a three bedroom home is not far behind having recently ticked over the $900,000 mark, with a clearly upwards trajectory.
The median asking price for units sits just below the $600,000 mark, having moved above $500,000 towards the end of 2012.
You can <a href="https://sqmresearch.com.au/graph_median_weeks.php?region=nsw%3A%3ASydney&amp;type=c&amp;t=1" target="_blank">see their full break down here</a>.
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Source: SQM Research.
 
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