Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

Joel Robinson

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

&nbsp;

Developer GURNER™ Group has revealed $1.65 billion in residential sales nationally across the 12 months to December 2025, driven largely by the continued momentum of its Docklands wellness-focused precinct, Elysium Fields.

The sales result was generated across seven projects in Victoria and New South Wales, headlined by Elysium Fields, GURNER™’s $2.75 billion mixed-use precinct planned for Harbour Esplanade in Docklands.

The project has recorded more than $500 million in sales across the first three towers, equating to around 580 apartments sold.

The first tower, Helios, has now sold out of its 240 private residences, with GURNER™ preparing to release a premium penthouse collection comprising 15 three-bedroom penthouses in coming weeks.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370975]

Elysium Fields is being developed on the long-held 20,000 sqm Docklands site at 208-226 Harbour Esplanade, which had remained undeveloped for more than two decades prior to GURNER™ taking over the project around four years ago.

Construction has now commenced across four towers ranging between 18 and 30 storeys, with Hamilton Marino and Maxcon appointed as builders.

Once complete, the precinct is expected to comprise around 1,100 residences, alongside retail, hospitality and public realm uses integrated throughout the site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370981]

Designed by Fraser &amp; Partners in collaboration with GURNER™ Design House, the project has been positioned around the developer’s broader focus on wellness-led residential living.

“We don’t sell apartments. We create a true luxury lifestyle that simply doesn’t exist elsewhere in the market today,” Founder and Executive Chairman Tim Gurner said.

“To deliver that requires an extraordinary level of detail, coordination and discipline across multiple verticals, from design and hospitality through to wellness and service.”

“We’ve always believed that living extends far beyond the physical residence. It’s about how you feel the moment you arrive, how you live day-to-day, and the ecosystem that supports that.” 
[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370977]

The project’s design places a heavy focus on landscaping, wellness amenities and biophilic design principles.

Plans include around 3,700 sqm of landscaped gardens and open space throughout the precinct, alongside a retail and dining offering spanning approximately 5,000 sqm.

The broader public realm strategy centres around what GURNER™ describes as the “Path of Life”, an urban forest and landscaped pedestrian environment intended to connect the various buildings and wellness spaces across the precinct.

The apartments themselves will incorporate a range of wellness-focused inclusions, including purified air and water systems, circadian lighting, antimicrobial surfaces, and optional in-home wellness upgrades.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370980]

Gurner said the company’s experience through its Saint Haven wellness clubs had directly informed the residential offering now being incorporated into Elysium Fields.

“We’re seeing a clear global shift toward longevity, performance and proactive health,” Gurner said.

“Our role is to deliver that in a way that feels seamless, highly private and beautifully resolved within the environments we create.”

A large component of the wellness offering is planned through the resident amenity and health facilities proposed within the precinct.

That includes plans for bathing and recovery facilities spread throughout the towers, incorporating mineral pools, saunas, steam rooms, flotation therapy, red light therapy and wellness lounges.

The developer is also seeking approvals for what it describes as a “reverse ageing medical clinic” within the precinct.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370978]

According to project information released by the group, the proposed facility would include cryotherapy, IV infusion therapy, infrared and dry saunas, PEMF beds, MRIs, DEXA scans, brain scans and blood analysis services.

Within the first tower, Helios, residents will also have access to a dedicated amenity offering known as the Sky Private Club.

The upper 15 levels of the building will include private lounges, dining spaces, rooftop amenities and optional private wellness studios integrated within residences.

The Helios tower itself comprises 260 apartments ranging between 60 sqm and 300 sqm, including a collection of penthouses.

That includes a planned two-storey penthouse spanning around 600 sqm with uninterrupted bay views.

The Elysium Fields precinct is being delivered in partnership with Digital Harbour Holdings, a consortium that includes the Liberman family, which controls the development rights across the Docklands site.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=144441 project_image_fid=370979]

The sales result comes as GURNER™ continues expanding its national development pipeline beyond Victoria.

“We have a strong pipeline across Australia and are now focused on scaling into key markets including New South Wales and Queensland, while continuing to build on our Melbourne base,” Gurner said.

“We currently have more than $3 billion in the market, growing to over $5 billion by October, and expect to materially outperform last year in the 2026 calendar year.”

The result also reflects the continued strength of the upper-end apartment market in Melbourne, particularly for owner-occupier-focused product with large-scale amenity and lifestyle offerings.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=144441]

Record result anchored by the Group’s “utopian” Elysium Fields precinct – defying market headwinds in Docklands.

Elysium Fields drive Gurner to $1.65 billion in apartment sales over 2025

National Australia Bank (NAB) will fund <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/palmera-residences-gold-coast-18-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Palmera</a>, a $1 billion, 52-level luxury residential tower being developed by Central Equity in one of the Gold Coast’s most tightly held coastal locations at Northcliffe.

The project, launched recently by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/central-equity">Central Equity</a>, one of Victoria’s largest private residential developers, comes at a time when construction funding for large residential developments has become increasingly competitive as lenders tighten exposure to the sector.

Multiplex has been appointed the builder, and construction is now underway.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365784]

Since its first project, Central Equity has delivered more than 85 residential developments with a combined end value exceeding $8 billion.

Palmera reflects Central Equity’s growing focus on the Gold Coast luxury apartment market and continues a relationship between Central Equity and NAB that dates back to the late 1980s, when the bank funded one of Melbourne’s earliest inner-city residential towers at a time when high-rise apartment living in the CBD was largely unproven.

“NAB’s funding of Central Equity’s $36 million CBD development in the late 1980’s to the financing of the billion-dollar tower today highlights the long-term relationship between the two organisations in delivering major residential projects” said Central Equity Founder and Chairman Eddie Kutner.

He said NAB’s early support was instrumental in helping establish the company’s development model.

“When we commenced our first residential tower in the late 1980s the concept of funding off-the-plan apartments was still largely untested in Australia,” Kutner said.

“NAB recognised the opportunity early and supported the project when others were uncertain. That relationship has now continued for more than 37 years across many developments.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365771]

Central Equity was established in 1987 when Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank precinct were still dominated by warehouses and commercial buildings. Fewer than 100 residents lived in Southbank at the time, and large-scale residential development in the inner city was not widely considered.

Recognising changing demographics and lifestyle preferences, the company began developing high-rise residential projects designed to bring permanent residents into the city centre.

Central Equity has provided accommodation for approximately 40,000 residents across Melbourne’s CBD and Southbank, while also incorporating supporting infrastructure including essential lifestyle facilities like retail spaces, childcare facilities and neighbourhood activity centres.

Central Equity has spent many years assembling the Palmera development site on the corner of Garfield Terrace and Frederick Street in Northcliffe, creating a supersite of around 3,300 sqm.

The developer said the Palmera apartment tower reflects its long-term view of the Gold Coast as a growing and increasingly diversified economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365768]

Supported by infrastructure including the light rail network, major road upgrades expanded education, hospital and medical facilities and continued expansion at the Gold Coast Airport with more international and domestic flights.

Positioned in the tightly held Northcliffe precinct, the 52-level tower will deliver 347 apartments, targeting buyers seeking a high-end coastal lifestyle, from downsizers to interstate investors.

Designed by Marchese Partners with interiors by DBI, Palmera has been conceived as a next-generation residential offering, featuring a collection of oversized apartments, with premium three-bedroom residences offering sweeping northern views stretching from Surfers Paradise through to Burleigh Heads.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=108274]

NAB funds $1 billion Surfers Paradise apartment development, Palmera

Two years after completing one of the newest developments in North Sydney, developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aqualand-australia">Aqualand</a> is turning its attention to the rapidly evolving St Leonards apartment market.

The developer, which completed AURA by Aqualand on North Sydney's Walker Street, has lodged plans for a 5,918 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/33-37-herbert-street-st-leonards-nsw-2065">33-37 Herbert Street, St Leonards,</a> seeking approval for a pair of residential towers rising above a shared podium opposite Royal North Shore Hospital.

The proposal forms part of the broader transformation underway across the St Leonards-Crows Nest precinct, where former industrial and commercial sites are increasingly being redeveloped into high-density mixed-use projects tied to major transport infrastructure.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2cc428cf-fe70-4cac-9cd5-264ad53af62c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=otKSnHtbjAvAddOnovyXQMgcAwE6DMe1" />

According to the planning documents, the site sits “within the St Leonards–Crows Nest Strategic Centre, identified by the NSW Government as a key area for accommodating future jobs and housing across Sydney.”

The proposal has been designed by fjcstudio, formerly FJMT Studio, and is being progressed through the State Significant Development pathway due to its scale and affordable housing provision.

The scheme would comprise 413 apartments, including 46 affordable housing units, alongside retail and commercial uses fronting Herbert Street. The project would also include communal open space, landscaping, a swimming pool, gymnasium, children’s play areas and podium-level resident amenities.

Planning documents show the development would consist of a part-13, part-39 storey tower form positioned above a four-storey podium.

“The development comprises a unified podium that activates the street interface, and two setback towers to accommodate new housing supply while maintaining an appropriate human scale at ground level,” fjcstudio noted in its Design Report.

The northern and southern towers have been shaped to respond to the surrounding skyline while also limiting overshadowing impacts to nearby public open space, particularly Talus Reserve.

The design report said the differing tower heights were intended to “contribute to a varied skyline while responding to the surrounding built form context and solar access considerations.”

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="36da62dc-ff9e-41f2-a7e3-7be38373751c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.45%E2%80%AFAM_0.png?VersionId=Mo6Rp2r.XRLTzIfg_PEEpw8NepDH8UBs" />

The site sits directly opposite Royal North Shore Hospital and within walking distance of both St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

While the site itself sits just outside the formal Crows Nest Transport Oriented Development boundary, the planning documents repeatedly reference its alignment with the broader TOD objectives reshaping the Lower North Shore.

“The site is located adjacent to St Leonards Station and in close proximity to Crows Nest Metro which is within the Crows Nest Transit Orientated Development Accelerated Precinct which has been identified by the NSW Government to support housing delivery,” the Design Verification Statement noted.

According to fjcstudio, the project has been designed to respond to the broader transition occurring across St Leonards, where increasing residential density is being concentrated around transport infrastructure and employment hubs.

“The broader precinct is undergoing significant change, with a mix of existing mid-rise buildings and newer high-density developments,” the report stated.

“Recent and approved projects indicate a consistent shift toward taller built form, typically organised as tower-and-podium typologies with more active ground levels.”

The proposal includes close to 6,000 sqm of retail and commercial space across the ground floor and podium levels, designed to create a more activated street edge along Herbert Street.

Aqualand’s plans would also introduce a landscaped podium shared between the two towers, with communal open space in the form of a podium rooftop designed to support resident interaction and improve urban greening outcomes. The scheme would also introduce pocket parks at the northern and southern ends of the site, including a landscaped area at the corner of Herbert and Ella streets designed to improve pedestrian amenity and soften the streetscape.

&nbsp;

The proposal is being progressed through the NSW Government’s Housing Delivery Authority pathway, which was introduced to accelerate housing supply across the state. The application was declared State Significant Development in April 2025 following an expression of interest process.

<img alt="Aqualand" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="faf6d97d-2671-454f-b85a-fe1c6a7be608" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%209.51.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=diVd28OBVr5.YV.7prrOz.uAanwwwm7a" />

St Leonards has been particularly active with new developments in recent weeks. Developer SP Setia’s <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-sp-setia-targets-st-leonards-skyline-with-40-storey-tod-tower">plans for a new 42-storey tower</a> recently went on exhibition through the same pathway, while <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">Stockland’s 52-storey tower proposal</a> was also recently unveiled.

Aside from the St Leonards project, which is expected to take around nine months to move through the approvals process ahead of a potential 2027 launch, Aqualand is also preparing to launch Boronia, a new apartment project in Roseville comprising around 111 apartments on Larkin Street.

The developer also has approvals in place for the next stage of the Barangaroo precinct, which will feature new residential, retail, hospitality and community uses, alongside a new metro entry across the five-hectare site.

More than 50 new retail destinations are planned for Central Barangaroo, alongside a 270-metre-long boulevard connecting Hickson Park to Nawi Cove. Together with Harbour Park, more than 50 per cent of the precinct will comprise public open space and parkland.

First look: Aqualand joins St Leonards apartment party

The Block

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The South Yarra apartment Luke and Ebony renovated on the hit TV show The Block has found a tenant.
The co-creator and executive producer Julian Cress made the property available to rent for $1,650 a week, short of the $1,950 a week which was hoped after the show aired.
Renovated in the building previously known as the seedy Hotel Saville, the three bedroom plus study apartment only missed out on winning the series by $15,000.
Nigel Johnston of hockingstuart had the listing of <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/1-1a-affleck-street-south-yarra-vic-3141-10356999" target="_blank">1/1A Affleck Street</a> which has been removed from various websites.
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jonathanchancellor-7SQnKwU6yx

The Block secures South Yarra rental

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The return of Nine’s renovation reality program Reno Rumble secured disappointing results - with less than half the audience of its 2015 debut last year.
Just 395,000 metro viewers tuned in on its Monday night debut, which compared to <a href="https://mumbrella.com.au/reality-tv-winter-schedule-masterchef-reno-rumble-house-rules-seven-nine-ten-simulcasting-debut-head-to-head-291814" target="_blank">873,000 last year across Nine and Gem</a>.
It finished fourth in the 7.30 timeslot behind Seven’s My Kitchen Rules, which managed an audience of 1.462 million, ABC’s 7.30 (778,000) watching Leigh Sales and the PM Malcolm Turnbull, and Ten’s All Star Family Feud which was watched by 674,000 metro viewers.
MKR was the most watched show of the evening and also the most-watched program across the key advertising demographics (16-39, 18-49 and 25-54) according to OzTAM overnight metro ratings.
On its second night the audience rose to 453,000 but still well behind MKR on 1.41 million, the 7.30 Report on 679,000 and Bondi Rescue on Channel 10 at 540,000.
<a href="https://theblock2016.castasugar.com/" target="_blank">Applications closed last week, March 14</a> for contestants on the next series of The Block to be filmed at Port Melbourne.
Filming appears scheduled for May with it going to air in late 2016 possibly.
But media analyst Steve Allen, managing director of Fusion Strategy, told Fairfax Media the host of both shows, Scott Cam "must be reeling."
"They're destroying his career. Unfortunately, it's going to taint Scott and Shelley's (Craft) reputation."
Nine intended to screen Reno Rumble on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesday in the crucial 7.30pm time slot until otherwise rescheduled.
The series also sees original judges Darren Palmer and Romy Alwill replaced by Scottish interior decorators Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Rumble crumbles with the next The Block applicants under consideration

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There's whispers a heritage art deco factory in Port Melbourne will be the venue of the next series of Channel 9's popular reality show, The Block.
The Block's producers are believed to have snapped up the imposing, heritage protected building at 164 Ingles Street from the BRW rich-lister Harry Stamoulis.
The $5 million deal follows its marketing late last year. <a href="https://dawkinsocchiuto.com.au/property/auto-draft-32/" target="_blank">The listing website</a> suggests the property is under offer. 
There had been rumours the one 2016 Block may have found a former icecream factory for its setting.
<div class="cT-imageLandscape">
<img src="https://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/v/g/1/i/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gmv0u7.png/1455685072530.jpg" alt="The Block's contestants will have to cope with heritage-building related restrictions next time around." title=""> 
But the pinpointed Port Melbourne building is part of the former Velvet soap factory site of J Kitchen &amp; Co which became Unilever.
It was constructed in the 1920s as the factory's administration office.
The building, with a stepped-back main entrance, was among a larger holding purchased by Stamoulis for $25 million in 2013, with around 280 townhouses now under construction on the surrounding former Symex chemical factory site opposite the Port Melbourne Cricket Oval.
Estate agent Walter Occhiuto from Dawkins Occhiuto has the building as being under "contract" on its website.
The marketing campaign focused on the building's development potential for office or hotel accommodation. It was marketed as an outstanding building of 2355 sqm. It sits on a 1155 sqm block.
J Kitchen &amp; Sons commenced trading in Port Melbourne in the 1850s making such products as Velvet Soap and Electrine Candles from the tallow and other animal fats from the nearby slaughter yards. In the decades the company became Kitchen &amp; Lever then Unilever and most recently Unichema. 
But back in the second half of the 1920s, into the 1930s, the company produced a journal called Advance.
The Port Melbourne Historical &amp; Preservation Society (PMHPS) have several editions in their collection.
<a href="/images/2016/02/18/1925view-1.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/18/1925view-1.jpg" alt=""> 
 
</div>
Advance Vol 2 No 7 from July 1925 featured their new Administration Offices saying '... the firm may well claim to have built one of the most up-to-date block of offices in the Commonwealth, combining loftiness, dignity and stability'.
Inside the main entrance the vestibule has a 'mosaic floor in a shining pattern, having the monogram of J Kitchen &amp; Sons worked into the centre".
 <a href="/images/2016/02/18/fourviews.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/18/fourviews.jpg" alt=""> 
Interior fittings were of the highest order with doors built of 'polished maple and plate glass'. The second floor contained a 'spacious hall for social purposes designed to accomodate 700 people' with a kauri dance floor.
The following edition of Advance in October 1925 included this photo of the opening of the Social Hall. <a href="/images/2016/02/18/opening.jpg" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="/images/2016/02/18/opening.jpg" alt="">
The company Social Club appears to have been very active with a library containing over 600 volumes, a tennis club, cricket club and football club who on the King's Birthday took on another great Port Melbourne company, the biscuit-makers Swallow and Ariel, at the Port Melbourne football ground.
The Block's last season saw contestants renovating the Hotel Saville, an octagonal building on the corner of busy Commercial and Punt roads in South Yarra.
The last series, won by Newcastle’s Dean and Shay, averaged 1.048 million viewers across its run.
Dean and Shay collected $755,000 when their penthouse apartment sold for $2.3 million.
Nine has revealed that the makers of The Block are yet to purchase a building for the next series.
The 2016 series of The Block won’t screen until the last quarter of this year. 
 
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The Block Port Melbourne - awash with soapy renovation series setting whispers

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It was a bumper year for The Block South Yarra as every apartment featured in the hit design show was sold above reserve price in their November 2015 finale.
The buyer of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-south+yarra-121129266" target="_blank">5/1a Affleck Street</a>, known as Luke and Ebony's apartment, has just listed the sub penthouse for rental.
It was bought for $2.2 million in November.
Thousands of Melburnians queued up for a glimpse before it's live TV auction, but the $1950 a week price tag is likely to see a cap on prospective renters.
If the buyer secures a tenant at the asking price they will be looking at a rental yield of 4.6 percent.
Located in the formerly seedy Hotel Saville in South Yarra, the three bedroom plus study full floor apartment occupies an upper level of the complex.
The $2.2 million sale comfortably beat the reserve price of $1.56 million, but it wasn't enough for Luke and Ebony to win the competition. The WA siblings missed out by just $15,000 on overall winners Dean and Shay.
Brant Williams of Advantage Property Consulting is managing the lease for the octagonal shaped apartment.
To check out the best and worst contestants on The Block of all time, click here.
<h1> </h1>
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Block South Yarra apartment investor seeks 4.6 percent rental yield 

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With this year's television program The Block ending, here is a list compiled of the most successful and unsuccessful scores on The Block since the show started.

The highest scorers from this year's judging were Kingi and Carlo, but how did they fare against previous years?

35. Polly and Waz - Cameron Street, Richmond.

34. Mike and Andrew - Dorcas Street, South Melbourne

33. Amie and Katrina - Cameron Street, Richmond

32. Dan and Dani - Dorcas Street, South Melbourne

31. Tim and Anatasia - Triple Threat - Lowest room score in history (eight out of 30 for their study and staircase)

30. Rod and Tania - Cameron Street, Richmond

29. Dan and Dani - All Stars

28. Brad and Lara - Dorcas Street, South Melbourne

27. Josh and Jenna - Cameron Street, Richmond

26. Mark and Duncan - All Stars

25. Andrew and Whitney - Blocktagon.

24. Luke and Ebony - Blocktagon.

23. Chris and Jenna - Glasshouse

22. Dale and Sophie - Dorcas Street, South Melbourne

21. Josh and Jenna - All Stars

20. Chantelle and Steve - Fans v Faves

19. Ayden and Jess - Triple Threat

18. Suzi and Vonni - Blocktagon

17. Phil and Amity - All Stars

16. Darren and Diane - Triple Threat

15. Alisa and Lysandra - Fans v Faves

14. Madi and Jarrod - Sky High

13. Dean and Shay - Blocktagon

12. Trixie and Johnno - Sky High

11. Bec and George - Sky High

10. Josh and Charlotte - Triple Threat

9. Karstan and Max - Glasshouse

8. Kyal and Kara - Fans v Faves

7. Brad and Dale - Fans v Faves

6. Alisa and Lysandra - Sky High

5. Matt and Kim - Sky High

4. Shannon and Simon - Glasshouse

3. Darren and Deanna - Glasshouse

2. Kingi and Carlo - Blocktagon

1. Michael and Carlene - Glasshouse

With four properties in the top 10, the Glasshouse had the strongest average whereas the weakest judging scores came at Cameron Street, Richmond. 

We will no doubt get a bunch of newbie contestants next year, for Fairfax Media to further dwell on, though there's no indication yet that another site has been selected for another series.

<h2>Recently listed properties:</h2>

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[smartcode_project:default project_id=2929]

[smartcode_project:default project_id=3783]
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The best and worst contestants on The Block of all time

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Buyers of apartments in Channel 9's The Block: Blocktagon could claim an average of over $1.5 million in depreciation deductions for each apartment after their purchase this weekend.
<a href="/expert-insights/buying/the-block-dean-and-shay-penthouse-set-for-2-million-sale">Dean and Shay's</a> penthouse apartment (above) has the highest amount of depreciation deductions available, with a minimum of $62,735 that could be claimed in the first year and $1,621,688 over the specified lifetime of the property.
Luke and Ebony’s apartment at <a href="/expert-insights/buying/vast-open-plan-the-key-to-the-block-luke-and-ebony-apartment-offering">5/1A Affleck Street</a> as the second highest amount of total minimum depreciation deductions available at $1,600,297.
“As the property with the highest amount of total depreciation deductions available, Dean and Shaye’s apartment may prove attractive to sophisticated investors,” said Bradley Beer from BMT Tax Depreciation.
“While there are many factors that will decide which apartment achieves the highest price, the additional cash flow astute property investors receive from depreciation will assist them when crunching their numbers to make purchase decisions.  
“While Dean and Shaye look to be the clear winners in terms of unlocked depreciation value - it’s a very close field,” said Bradley Beer.
Below is a summary of the depreciation estimates BMT Tax Depreciation found for all five apartments after conducting a site inspection and providing their analysis of the potential deductions investors can claim once the properties are income producing.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2015/11/20/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-20%20at%204.21.32%20PM.png" target="_blank">Click to enlarge</a>
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2015/11/20/Screen%20Shot%202015-11-20%20at%204.21.32%20PM.png" alt="">
The South Yarra property, originally the 34 room Hotel Saville, was reportedly purchased by The Block’s production company for $6.25 million in 2014. The building has undergone an extensive renovation on the show and is home to five luxury apartments.
Legislation allows the owners of any income producing property to claim depreciation deductions for the wear and tear of the building structure and the assets contained within. 
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The Block 2015 depreciation winners are Dean and Shay 

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Auctions for the Block are this weekend with buyer's advocate and judge, Nicole Jacobs describing buyer interest levels as fantastic.
Nicole Jacobs added that the interest is coming from a younger demographic that are working in the city, downsizers and families with children.
Investors are likely to be interested in Suzi and Bonni's apartment as she suggested to Domain that it has the highest tax depreciation of all the apartments however BMT officially advised it was Dean and Shay's apartment with the highest amount of depreciation deductions.
The priciest auction property is likely to be Dean and Shay's penthouse with Jacobs tipping definitely selling in the $2 million plus range.
Also potentially in the $2 million range is Luke and Ebony's apartment due to its popular open plan style.
The television series winners however will be determined by the amount above the as yet undisclosed reserve prices for each apartment, allowing the cheapest apartment to win the show prize. 
Caroline and Kingi's apartment has had "massive" interest, particularly for the internal finishes and could reach up to high $1 millions should there be extreme competition.
Wooden floors in the much maligned Andrew and Whitney's apartment should see their property hit $1.5 million as Nicole describes the couple as a dark horse.
Buyers' agent Nicole Jacobs attended all five auctions last year and bid on behalf of clients at three.
She said last year that she felt there wasn't the depth of buyers who wanted large apartments.
"I was going in to it worried that there were not five buyers at $2 million," she said.
"At that level, people are looking for a townhouse or a home"
The winner will be the highest price paid over the pre auction set reserve.
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How much will The Block Octagonal South Yarra apartments go for?

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The Block contestants Dean and Shay's have the penthouse apartment offering for this weekend's auction finale with buyers' agents suggesting a $2 million sale was possible.
Andrew McCann and Aydan Cameron from Jellis Craig South Yarra have the listing of <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/6-1a-affleck-street-south-yarra/Property-Details-buy-residential-9728788" target="_blank">6/1A Affleck Street</a>.
The Block host Scott Cam described their winning bedroom as "luxe industrial with a touch of Scandinavian”.
The property is available at auction on November 21.
New South Wales team Shay and Dean have grabbed the winning Block combination, Damien Cooley and Andrew McCann of Jellis Craig Real Estate, to sell their penthouse apartment on The Block. 
Damien and Andrew will be aiming for their third win together having won the last two series’ for brothers Shannon &amp; Simon and All Star couple Deanne &amp; Darren.
"Our apartment is extremely different from every other floor, we’ve taken risks where others haven’t and being on the top level we have amazing views across South Yarra and the city.”
“We can’t wait to see how the auction goes at the end of the series. We’ve put our heart and soul into this apartment and it’s something we are very proud of.”
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The Block Dean and Shay penthouse set for $2 million sale

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The Block contestants Luke and Ebony's sub-penthouse South Yarra apartment will go to auction this weekend with Block agent fixture, Biggin &amp; Scott's Russell Cambridge. 
The three bedroom, three bathroom property is on floor five of the complex offering extensive views of Melbourne.
It features a state of the art white glossed kitchen installed  after early style missteps. 
They were the only couple to knock down major walls to create an enormous open plan living, dining and kitchen enhanced by dark floorboards.
Andrew Crotty joins Cambridge from Biggin and Scott Richmond with the listing of <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/1a-affleck-street-south-yarra/Property-Details-buy-residential-9728465" target="_blank">1A Affleck Street</a>.
They too have decided to leave behind the less desirable Commercial Road address in their marketing.
The complex features a communal roof terrace with a barbecue, cinema and wellness centre.
The WA pair have an edge over the other contestants as Ebony is an interior designer and Luke is an electrician by trade.
The brother and sister pairing said they treated the apartment as if they were designing it for a client.
They went out and researched what was selling around Melbourne, Luke said.
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Vast open plan the key to The Block Luke and Ebony apartment offering

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The Block contestants Andy and Whitney's apartment is on the market for November 21 auction.
The pair are first time renovators and decided to include a controversial coffin shaped dining room table in their apartment.
The three bedroom octagonal shaped property includes three attaching balcony aspects and three bathrooms.
The apartment features dedicated lift access, state of the art home automation, zoned heating and indoor-outdoor surround sound.
The property also includes a large terrace with outdoor heating, external TV and its own wine fridge.
Greg Hocking and Peter Zervas of Greg Hocking Holdsworth has the listing of <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-vic-south+yarra-121112534" target="_blank">3/1A Affleck Street</a>.
The listing agents of Dean and Shay's apartment have also cast off the undesirable Commercial Road address and advertised the property as 6/1A Affleck Street.
The apartment is located in the former Hotel Saville in South Yarra which includes a ground floor cafe. 
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