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.

Joel Robinson

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

<main data-perf-region="main">
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.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152737]

<h3 data-end="3697" data-section-id="q3n5ak" data-start="3672">&nbsp;</h3>
</main>

Nova Rêve arrives as Reve Group bets on Castle Hill's next growth phase

A collection of just 25 large-format apartments and penthouses overlooking Goodwin Park is entering the Coolangatta market, with <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/marea-residences-coolangatta-27-27a-dixon-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Maréa Residences</a> combining a low-density, residential-only approach with uninterrupted park and Pacific Ocean outlooks.

Located at 27 Dixon Street, Maréa comprises three and four-bedroom residences alongside a limited number of dual-level penthouses, with the project positioned between Goodwin Park and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/coolangatta-qld-4225">Coolangatta</a>’s coastal precinct.

Construction has commenced, with completion currently estimated for late 2027. Three-bedroom residences are priced from $1.8 million.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374005]

The project has been designed around its northern outlook across the park, with the building’s architecture, landscaping and material palette intended to establish a connection with the neighbouring green space. The residences have been configured to maximise natural light and views across Goodwin Park towards the ocean.

Inside, the material palette incorporates timber, stone and brushed brass, complemented by curved detailing and ambient lighting. Kitchens and bathrooms carry the same natural material approach, while residences also include basement parking, storage and lift access.

Maréa’s penthouses are arranged over two levels and include private pools, adding another layer to the project’s focus on larger-format apartment living. Across the development, residences are configured with three or four bedrooms rather than the broader mix of smaller apartment types commonly found in larger projects.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374010]

Resident amenity is concentrated at rooftop level, where landscaped entertaining terraces and pools take advantage of elevated views across Coolangatta and the Pacific Ocean.

The project has so far been particularly well received by local owner-occupiers and downsizers, according to Urban Activation Property Sales and Marketing Director Matt George, with the residential-only format, construction quality and northern park outlook among the features resonating with purchasers.

“The uninterrupted northern aspect overlooking Goodwin Park has been a key point of difference, with buyers attracted to the sense of serenity and open space the park provides, while still enjoying easy access to the ocean and being within walking distance of the lifestyle and amenities Coolangatta has to offer,” George said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150999 project_image_fid=374002]

“The combination of high-quality construction, a residential-only building, park outlook and proximity to the beach has resonated strongly with the local downsizer market.”

The Dixon Street address is within walking distance of Coolangatta Beach and the broader southern Gold Coast coastline, including the surf breaks at Snapper Rocks and Kirra. Coolangatta’s cafés, restaurants and retail are nearby, while Gold Coast Airport is also within close proximity.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150999]

Maréa Residences brings parkside apartments to Coolangatta

Melbourne developer PDG has secured Victorian Government approval for its $1.5 billion Southbank development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-one-1-queens-bridge-street-southbank-vic-3006">The One</a>, clearing the way for the long-dormant riverfront site opposite Crown to finally be developed.

The Minister for Planning has approved the project at 1-29 Queens Bridge Street, with the Department of Transport and Planning issuing the planning permit following its assessment.

The approval will allow PDG to develop the prominent 5,059 sqm site with a major mixed-use tower comprising premium apartments, including branded residences, a luxury hotel and boutique office space.

PDG acquired the site in late 2024, with its position directly opposite Crown's main entrance and near Melbourne's Arts Precinct making it one of Southbank's most significant remaining development opportunities.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3933013e-6332-4386-b9be-089df05caf17" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.22%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sITIgBqDL0N3VNSMwWEmF5UA.uvcsRyu" />

Designed by COX in collaboration with ODO and PDG, the tower's architecture draws on the movement of the Yarra River, with six vertical pleats running the height of the sculpted facade.

The project will also see the heritage-listed Queens Bridge Hotel restored and incorporated into the development&nbsp;with new hospitality and public uses, including a rooftop venue.

A significant component of The One will be its residential amenity.

More than 5,000 sqm of resident facilities will be delivered across a single level, making it one of the largest consolidated residential amenity offerings proposed in an Australian apartment development.

The planning approval also incorporates a major upgrade of Queensbridge Square, which PDG will deliver in partnership with the City of Melbourne.

<img alt="PDG" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="73167fcd-1031-4b6f-a408-a064cfe45ed1" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-27%20at%209.29.17%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Pf1AEWxw6SNmBqR0zQW5lyEze.MtxgFp" />

The existing square will be revitalised as a new civic and pedestrian space along the Yarra River, strengthening the connection between the project, Southbank and the riverfront.

PDG Founder and Managing Director Vince Giuliano said the approval represented a major milestone for a site which has remained largely underutilised for more than 15 years.

“This is the most significant Planning Permit approval Melbourne has seen in recent years,” Giuliano said.

“For more than 15 years, this site has remained underutilised. This approval enables us to deliver a project that will contribute meaningfully to the revitalisation of Southbank, restore and reactivate an important heritage building, and create a new civic and hospitality destination for Melbourne.”

The latest approval follows an earlier planning permit issued by the City of Melbourne covering demolition works across part of the site at 9-29 Queens Bridge Street. Those demolition and early works are already underway.

PDG has also started generating early interest in the residential component from owner-occupiers ahead of a planned public launch in early 2027.

PDG secures approval for $1.5bn Southbank apartment development, The One

Local developer Harridan is seeking to turn its Woolloongabba apartment project into the first stage of a broader transformation of Burke Street, using a new 16-storey mixed-use building to establish a greener pedestrian connection toward the rapidly evolving Boggo Road transport and knowledge precinct.

The South East Queensland developer has filed plans for 154 apartments on the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/4-burke-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">southern side of Burke Street</a>, where its proposal has been designed alongside a wider vision by LatStudios for the street.

That vision positions the southern side of Burke Street for buildings of 15 storeys and above, while envisaging lower-rise development of up to five storeys on the northern side to transition into Woolloongabba's existing character housing. It also proposes wider pedestrian verges, deep planting, new street trees and upgrades to the pedestrian approach to Boggo Road Station.

The Harridan development itself has been designed by Brisbane-based Arqus Design and will comprise 154 apartments across 16 storeys. The mix is weighted heavily toward two-bedroom apartments, with 121 proposed alongside 10 one-bedroom and 23 three-bedroom residences. There will typically be around 14 units per floor.

A lower-ground car park and three podium levels will accommodate 156 resident parking spaces, along with visitor and commercial parking. There will also be 154 resident bicycle spaces and 40 visitor bicycle parks.

&nbsp;

Harridan is a family-owned developer and part of the Holmwood Highgate Group, with more than three decades of development activity across South East Queensland. Its portfolio spans residential, commercial and industrial property, with current residential projects including Riverbank on Byron in Bulimba, Esperance Residences in Carina and The Precinct at Kinross Road in Thornlands.

Wooloongabba has been popular for apartment developers, particularly since the announcement of the 2032 Summer Olympics games in Brisbane.

While there have been a lot of development applications, it has failed to materialize into real supply.&nbsp;

Sarazin has been the major player in the area. They are under construction at Murcia Residences, on the fringe of East Brisbane and Woolloongabba. They have just launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-stanley-residences-woolloongabba-8-trafalgar-street-woolloongabba-qld-4102">The Stanley Residences</a>, in Woolloongabba on Trafalagar Street. They also have Nuage coming soon on the nearby <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/nuage-woolloongabba-14-wellington-road-woolloongabba-qld-4102">Wellington Road</a>.

First look: Harridan plans Burke Street transformation beside Boggo Road transport hub

The Block

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If you're interested in buying the townhouse renovated by Deanne and Darren on The Block Triple Threat, you can expect to pay $1,654,000, according to price prediction website realAs.
The website has released its predictions for the upcoming South Yarra auctions, which are based on a tightly-held algorithm.
Deanne and Darren's renovation at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-south+yarra-119444079" target="_blank">4/27 Darling Street</a> (pictured above) is likely to be the most expensive of the four properties, with an advertised price of $1.5 million.
RealAs predicts the next most expensive to be Josh and Charlotte's at 1/27 Darling Street. It tips the triple storey townhouse will go for $1.55 million, with an advertised price of $1.4 million.
Jess and Ayden and Tim and Anastasia's apartments seem to be neck and neck, with RealAs predicting a $1,446,000 price tag for Tim and Anastasia's at <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/for-sale/27-darling-street-south-yarra-vic-3141-2011881553" target="_blank">2/27 Darling Street</a>. Jess and Ayden's <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-south+yarra-119448343" target="_blank">unit three</a> is only $20,000 behind, at $1,426,000, despite the $100,000 price gap between their quoted prices.
<ul>
<li>1/27 Darling St:</li>
</ul>
Agent quote: $1.4 million RealAs: $1.55 million
<ul>
<li>2/27 Darling St:</li>
</ul>
Agent quote: $1.3 million RealAs: $1.446 million
<ul>
<li>3/27 Darling St:</li>
</ul>
Agent quote: $1.2 million RealAs: $1.426 million
<ul>
<li>4/27 Darling St:</li>
</ul>
Agent quote: $1.5 million RealAs: $1.654 million
According to RealAs, their average prediction is within 5% of the final sale price of properties, and close to 90% of their predictions fall within a 10% margin of the final sale price.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/real-estate/the-block-townhouses-tipped-to-sell-for-15m-plus/story-fndba8uq-1227298820902" target="_blank">News Corp earlier this week</a>, Wakelin Property Advisory director Paul Nugent also backed Deanne and Darren's apartment to take out the highest price, pricing it between $1.6 million and $1.8 million.
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jrichardson-uRX5hFdKfN

Darren and Dee's renovation tipped to top The Block and sell for more than $1.6 million

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For the potential buyers of The Block Triple Threat townhouses, the fully-furnished properties with new interiors offer a hidden benefit.
If their purchase is used for investment purposes, the buyer of one apartment could make almost $1.4 million worth of deductions within the course of their ownership.
BMT Tax Depreciation, which assembles the depreciation reports for The Block properties each season, has revealed that investors will be able to claim between $39,986 and $54,163 in depreciation benefits in their first year of ownership.
Tim and Anastasia's renovation at 2/27 Darling Street in South Yarra offers the greatest deductions, with between $44,316 and $54,163 claimable in the first year. In total, their apartment offers a maximum deduction of $1,389,708.
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/04/14/graph%20april%2014%20one.jpg" alt="">
Source: BMT Tax Depreciation
Depreciation, the declining value of a property or its items, can be claimed as a loss in investment properties, and therefore offers a significant tax benefit for investors.
Of all the items in the Block townhouses, it's the pricey designer kitchen appliances that offer the greatest depreciation benefits.
In Tim and Anastasia's triple level unit, for example, there is a total deduction of $19,842 available over five years for their kitchen appliances. In just the first year, investors could make a deduction of $3,445 on kitchen items.
Air conditioning offers the next greatest deduction, with $12,300 available over five years. Televisions and audio-visual equipment, window coverings and gas heating all also provide thousands of dollars in deductions.
The tax deductions peak for each couple's projects in the second year of ownership, with almost $60,000 potentially deductible in Tim and Anastasia's project in the second year.
<ul>
<li>Tim and Anastasia's depreciation:</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/04/14/depreciation-april-14-two.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Josh and Charlotte's depreciation:</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/04/14/depreciation-april-14-one.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Ayden and Jess's depreciation:</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/04/14/depreciation-april-14-three.jpg" alt="">
<ul>
<li>Darren and Dee's depreciation:</li>
</ul>
<img src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/po.images/2015/04/14/depreciation-april-14-four.jpg" alt="">
Source: BMT Tax Depreciation
The Block Triple Threat townhouses go to auction on 28 April.
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The Block Triple Threat's depreciation tax treat for investors

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The two rooms that make the biggest impact on potential buyers are the bathroom and kitchen.
The Block last night saw the Buyers’ Jury inspecting contestant’s kitchens, which ranged from modern glamour to stylishly practical.
The kitchen is a place of gathering, where families can congregate and spend a lot of their time together. This is what makes them so integral to the living space.
Ensuring the kitchen fits in well with the rest of the house is integral to how attractive a property is to buyers.
Ayden &amp; Jess’ and Tim &amp; Anastasia’s connecting terrace featured a very on trend indoor-outdoor kitchen area. Ayden &amp; Jess had a particularly good flow between the living room and the kitchen, which worked to increase the property’s warmth. Both kitchens are likely to attract the attention of potential buyers thanks to their innovative approach.
What renovators can also learn from the Blockhead’s kitchens is to be mindful of balancing style and practicality.
Tiling and grout in the kitchen is just that little more difficult and expensive to maintain, which can sometimes be a turn off for potential buyers. In some kitchens, using tiles as a replacement for splashback was a great aesthetic feature, however can potentially put off buyers looking to keep investment portfolio at the lowest possible cost to maintain.
Ayden &amp; Jess’s clever use of a butler pantry added incredible value to the kitchen as it provides space and hides appliances. Their open shelving is also on trend – a great little tip for budding renovators.
Here is what the buyers’ advocates thought of the contestants’ kitchens:
<ul>
<li>Charlotte &amp; Josh – 22.5</li>
<li>Tim &amp; Anastasia – 20.5</li>
<li>Ayden &amp; Jess – 25.5</li>
<li>Dea &amp; Daz (pictured above) – 28</li>
</ul>
GREVILLE PABST is CEO and director of <a href="https://www.wbpproperty.com/" target="_blank">WBP Property Group</a> and a judge on The Block Triple Threat.
Photo courtesy of Channel 9.
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gpabst-nAfzC8fgsR

Kitchen and bathrooms make the biggest impact on buyers: The Block's Greville Pabst

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The four properties in The Block Triple Threat will be going under the hammer on Tuesday 28 April, with each team listing their renovations.
The open for inspection has been set for the weekend of 11 April, and as <a href="/expert-insights/the-block-on-show-at-this-weekends-open-for-inspection">in previous seasons</a> fans and spectators will be able to tour through the South Yarra townhouses.
<a href="/expert-insights/building/david-wood-of-hockingstuart-to-auction-charlotte-and-joshs-the-block-triple-threat-apartment">Josh and Charlotte</a> have chosen hockingstuart's Mark Konishi and Georgia Whitford to market their unit at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-south+yarra-119439203" target="_blank">1/27 Darling Street</a> (pictured below). David Wood of Hockingstuart Albert Park will auction their renovation. Wood has appeared on previous seasons, notably securing <a href="/expert-insights/buying/steve-and-chantelles-auctioneer-david-wood-on-the-blocks-record-breaking-win">the winning result for Steve and Chantelle</a> in The Block Fans v Faves.
<img src="/images/2015/04/02/south%20yarra%20ap%20one.jpg" width="800" height="600">
<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/for-sale/27-darling-street-south-yarra-vic-3141-2011881553" target="_blank">Apartment Two</a> (pictured below), renovated by Tim and Anastasia, has been listed with Biggin &amp; Scott agent Russell Cambridge. Last season, Cambridge worked with Deanne and Darren for the campaign of their Glasshouse apartment.
<img src="/images/2015/04/02/south%20yarra%20ap%20two.jpg" alt="">
Ayden and Jess, who have renovated <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-south+yarra-119448343" target="_blank">3/27 Darling Street</a> (pictured below), are going with Joel Ser and Adam Joske of Gary Peer &amp; Associates.
<img src="/images/2015/04/02/south%20yarra%20ap%20three.jpg" alt="">
The unit of returning renovators Deanne and Darren at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-townhouse-vic-south+yarra-119444079" target="_blank">4/27 Darling Street</a> (pictured below) <a href="/expert-insights/building/dea-and-darren-decide-on-damien-cooley-for-the-block-triple-threat">will be auctioned by Damien Cooley</a>, while their apartment is marketed by Jellis Craig's Andrew McCann. McCann and Cooley teamed up last season to secure a win for brothers Simon and Shannon.
<img src="/images/2015/04/02/south%20yarra%20ap%20four.jpg" alt="">
Deanne and Darren and Ayden and Jess's listings are the only ones so far that make a mention of their reality television heritage.
The three storey townhouses each have three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with two parking spaces.
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The Block Triple Threat units listed and auction date revealed

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Auctioneer David Wood of hockingstuart Albert Park is set to return to The Block this season to sell Charlotte and Josh's apartment.
Mark Konishi of hockingstuart South Yarra is the listing agent.
Wood's greatest success on The Block so far came when he auctioned off Steve and Chantelle's winning apartment on The Block Fans v Faves. The Albert Park apartment in the former Dux Theatre sold for $2.47 million, a record price for the show.
Steve and Chantelle, dubbed the season's "renovation rookies", pocketed the $636,000 above-reserve "profit", along with a $100,000 prize.
At the time, Wood told Property Observer that he would be "delighted" to return to the show.
However, he didn't make an appearance last season, on The Block Glasshouse, where two teams only sold their apartments for a disappointing $10,000 above reserve.
Previously, he appeared on <a href="/news/agents-back-at-the-block-hockingstuart-set-to-sell-in-the-block-albert-park">The Block Sky High</a>, auctioning Trixie and Johnno's penthouse apartment at 142 Park Street, which sold for $1,605,000.
Charlotte and Josh, a chippy and food stylist from Manly in New South Wales, won the show's most recent room reveal with their en suite. The black and white tiled room featured a timber vanity, double black and white sinks, and white plantation shutters.
According to <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.therealestateconversation.com.au/2015/03/24/the-blocks-first-apartment-auction/1427198400" target="_blank">The Real Estate Conversation</a>, Josh and Charlotte's apartment will be listed with a price guide of $1.4 million on 30 March. The property will be open for inspection on April 11 and 12.
Meanwhile, it appears returning couple Darren and Deanne are considering careers in property development. The <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/aap/article-3007202/The-Block-double-Ds-eye-renovation-career" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a> reports that Darren Jolly is hoping to become a registered builder, while Deanne has been "inundated with requests" for her redecorating services from both commercial and individual clients. She also told AAP that she has been considering future television appearances.
 
 
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David Wood of hockingstuart to auction Charlotte and Josh's The Block Triple Threat apartment

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GUEST OBSERVATION
Last night’s Buyers’ Jury on The Block Triple Threat had contestants and viewers on the edge of their seats as potential buyers came in to inspect their handiwork.
The area attracts a high-end clientele so The Block bought in a diverse mix of people, at different stages of their lives and all with different intentions for the property.
Frank Valentic presented two serious property investors looking to rent out the apartments. Nicole Jacobs presented the properties to a retiring couple looking into the area for its attractive atmosphere, prime for people in later stages of their lives.
My buyers were two very different couples. Mature couple Jenny and Murray were looking to add to their property portfolio. Contrastingly, Sophia and Damien were a young professional couple looking to upgrade to the premium lifestyle the South Yarra area has to offer.
The lesson here was to demonstrate there is no point in designing a space with a specific buyer in mind as this only serves to limit your potential market. Blockheads learnt through first hand experience, the buyers market is a vastly varied one, and this should always be kept in the back of their minds when designing and renovating.
When taking a look at the contestants’ ensuites, not only did the buyers appreciate aesthetics, they also highly valued functionality. To their credit, all Block contestants had very strong ensuite designs to their advantage with the buyers.
In keeping with the South Yarra property market, the spaces all had a luxury feel - important to all the potential buyers. All contestants hit the mark with this, cleverly manipulating the functionality of each space.
Ayden and Jess stood out to the buyers as they provided a door around the toilet, considering the need for privacy in a shared space. Charlotte and Josh could have further improved their room (pictured above) by providing more storage. Both Tim and Anastasia and Daz and Dea could have carried more favour by considering the needs of their potential tenants in closer detail, such as providing towel racks that were closer to the shower.
What the buyers thought:
<ul>
<li>Charlotte and Josh – 24.5</li>
<li>Tim and Anastasia – 26.5</li>
<li>Ayden and Jess – 25</li>
<li>Dea and Daz – 26.5</li>
</ul>
GREVILLE PABST is CEO and director of <a href="https://www.wbpproperty.com/" target="_blank">WBP Property Group</a> and a judge on The Block Triple Threat.
Feature photo courtesy of Elizabeth Allnutt Photograph/Channel 9.
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Buyers know best: The Block's Greville Pabst

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GUEST OBSERVATION
The Block Triple Threat last night had the buyers’ advocates judging the contestants’ living rooms and dining areas.
Blockheads learned very quickly that the smaller touches made a big impression with the judges.
Committing to creating a look that appeals to a wider buyers market as possible creates value. By assigning budget to high quality fittings, furnishing and finishes, the Block contestants discovered they would be more likely to attract a wide range of potential buyers. While these details are important to some buyers, natural light and open living areas also provide extra space for buyers keen on entertaining and living in a spacious apartment.
Charlotte and Josh demonstrated how to creatively execute design continuity. Their rooms had a great flow between the dining to living area. Because the living spaces connected into the terrace, it gave the property a great openness that will appeal to buyers. Their digital setup was also well in tune with the contemporary, savvy South Yarra demographic.
Ayden &amp; Jess and Tim &amp; Anastasia were let down during judging due to minor details which could turn into issues for potential buyers. These details needed to be fixed before buyers view the property. For Ayden &amp; Jess, their floorboards and Tim &amp; Anastasia, their ceiling were both issues in this instance. Dea and Darren showed how large spaces can make a great impression, but their incomplete, low ceilings detracted from the openness of their living areas.
Making an impact in the living room is one of the most important areas of renovating so renovators need to consider carefully who will be using the property as needs will be different. Whether it will be families, single occupants, senior-aged occupants or tenants, living rooms, the space needs to warm, inviting and relaxing.
<div>Contestant scores</div>
<ul>
<li>Charlotte &amp; Josh – 22</li>
<li>Tim &amp; Anastasia – 24</li>
<li>Ayden &amp; Jess – 21</li>
<li>Dea &amp; Daz – 18</li>
</ul>
GREVILLE PABST is CEO and director of <a href="https://www.wbpproperty.com/" target="_blank">WBP Property Group</a> and a judge on The Block Triple Threat.
Feature photo courtesy of Channel 9.
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Finishes make first impressions: The Block's Greville Pabst

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The former NAB banker Lukas Kamay has been sentenced to jail for seven years, three months. The minimum served with be four years, six months.

Kamay was accused of using insider Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) information to make over $7 million by trading in the Australian dollar online over 10 months.

Police alleged Kamay, of Melbourne, used confidential ABS statistics to trade online, betting against foreign exchange derivative movements in the Australian dollar after allegedly being in receipt of national economic, retail trade and labour-force statistics before the normal 11.30am release.

Kamay plead guily to the charges. His accomplice, former ABS analyst Christopher Hill, was sentenced to three years and three months, to serve a minimum of two years.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=600]

Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said it was "the worst instance of insider trading to come before the courts in this country".

Kamay spent some of the proceeds on an apartment in The Block Albert Park.

His headline grabbing Albert Park purchase was the luxury apartment decorated by the runner-up Adelaide twins, Alisa and Lysandra which sold at its April auction for $2,375,000 —<a href="https://www.dinglepartners.com.au/index.cfm?pageCall=property&amp;propertyID=2618525" style="line-height: 1.3em;" target="_blank"> a massive $616,000 above the reserve of $1,759,000</a>. 

The Sunday Herald Sun <a href="https://ow.ly/i/5wuz5/original" target="_blank">uncovered Kamay's $2,375,000 purchase</a>.

<img alt="HS_cover_SUN.jpg" src="https://static.ow.ly/photos/original/5wuz5.jpg" title="HS_cover_SUN.jpg">

Source: Ow.ly

The three bedroom apartment was marketed for Alisa and Lysandra, the former SA police officers, by the Melbourne CBD agents, Anton Wongtrakun and Rochelle Wilson from Dingle Partners.

Apartment 3 at 47 O'Grady Street (feature picture above) was resold mid-2014.

Investors paid $2,375,000 to buy after the televised initial purchase did not proceed to settlement.

The replacement buyers had the apartment advertised for rent at $2,500 a week through Dingle Partners.
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Seven years jail for The Block Albert Park-buying ABS insider trader Lukas Kamay

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Last night’s buyers’ advocates on The Block Triple Threat saw three rooms that have the potential to add immense value to the contestants’ properties: a laundry, a powder room, and a wine cellar.
Here is a rundown of the scores the Buyers’ Jury gave the Blockheads last night:
<ul>
<li>Charlotte and Josh – 20.5</li>
<li>Tim and Anastasia – 25.5</li>
<li>Ayden and Jess – 23</li>
<li>Dea and Daz – 26.5</li>
</ul>
The rooms that we saw in last night’s episode are non-essential spaces – not every property has them. But my biggest advice is that if they are to be included, they need to be perfect in order to add real value to the property.
The wine cellar is a Block first, which meant that not everybody got it right.
When including a wine cellar, it’s important to know what buyers are looking for and more importantly, what functionally constitutes a wine cellar. Dea and Daz’s outstanding cellar (pictured above) entices buyers with its vast stock, which is enough to draw a potential buyer in. However, Tim and Anastasia stand out with this room because they were the only ones to include temperature control systems – making it a proper wine cellar that will not be compromised by the South Yarra demographic.
<img src="/images/2015/03/11/IMG_19413.JPG" alt="">
Buyer's advocate judges Greville Pabst (left) and Frank Valentic (right) in Dea and Daz's cellar.
While laundry facilities can be found in most properties, a private laundry room is not always included in every home. The rest of the buyers’ jury and myself agreed that a laundry is at the very least, a functional room.
This means they need to have space. Charlotte &amp; Josh as well as Daz &amp; Dea could have greatly benefitted if they took priority over space across all three of their rooms, rather than including an extra storage space. When thinking about putting in extra storage areas, Blockheads need to ensure that their rooms have enough space first.
Additionally, powder rooms are extra bathrooms that can be highly sought after as well as adding to the luxe of a property. What the contestants across the board managed to do well is that they ensured their powder rooms flowed on from the rest of their previous finished bathrooms. Buyers appreciate continuity between the rooms’ styles, this is especially important.
As finishes are particularly critical to buyers, contestants need to be aware that laminates are not going to cut it for the South Yarra demographic.
All in all it was agreed that these non-essential rooms might tip a potential buyer over to be the last bidder standing. 
GREVILLE PABST is CEO and director of <a href="https://www.wbpproperty.com/" target="_blank">WBP Property Group</a>.
Feature photo courtesy of Channel 9.
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Non-essential rooms have to be perfect to add value: The Block's Greville Pabst's room reviews

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The Block South Yarra is slipping.
It had a poor 609,000 viewers Wednesday night, it’s lowest Block ratings this season outside of its Thursday night Unlocked show. 
There were 191,000 Sydney metro viewers and 183,000 in Melbourne, according to the five city metro OzTam ratings. There were 127,000 in Brisbane, 61,000 in Perth and 47,000 in Brisbane.
Last night's regular Thursday Unlocked show made way for the NRL season opener on Channel 9.
Title Tattle reckons the boss David Gyngell, with more series in the pipeline for late this year, must be possibly considering replacing the reality show with The Big Bang Theory instead, with The Block over to the Gem channel.
Let's not forget that The Block started out as one night a week, with then proprietor Kerry Packer not being sure as to its likely success. "You're kidding me...What viewers watching paint dry?," is the cleaned-up version of Kerry's initial thoughts on the program idea. Episode one attracted more than two million viewers!
Interestingly the viewers who have turned off more of late have been from its new adopted home town, Melbourne.
They were underpinning <a href="/expert-insights/building/sydney-audiences-shun-the-blocks-lengthening-melbourne-residency">it </a><a href="/expert-insights/building/sydney-audiences-shun-the-blocks-lengthening-melbourne-residency">in the</a><a href="/expert-insights/building/sydney-audiences-shun-the-blocks-lengthening-melbourne-residency"> early weeks</a>. 
Crikey television ratings columnist Glenn Dwyer noted yesterday The Block was doing "miserably".
Noting 7.30 on ABC had more metro viewers twice this week.
"This version of The Block is a dud," wrote Dwyer.
"Being beaten by 7.30 didn't happen last year." 
He added that The Block was suffering from viewers being too familiar with its formula.
 
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