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>.

Joel Robinson

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

IN BRIEF

<ul>
	<li>
	Just three double-storey Sky Homes sit at the top of The Waterline, each with its own private marina berth and rooftop terrace.
	</li>
	<li>
	Construction on The Waterline is complete, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.
	</li>
	<li>
	Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and are priced from $3.65 million.
	</li>
</ul>

<hr />
Lewis Land has opened the first completed sky home for inspection at Harbour Shores, giving buyers their first opportunity to step inside one of just three double-storey residences crowning The Waterline.

Each sky home comes with its own private marina berth, rooftop terrace and Broadwater views, combining the scale of a larger home with direct access to the boating lifestyle that underpins the wider <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/harbour-shores-biggera-waters-564-oxley-drive-biggera-waters-qld-4216">Harbour Shores</a> masterplan.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366708]

Lewis Land Head of Development Michael Long said the inclusion of a berth with every Sky Home had become increasingly valuable as marina access across the Gold Coast tightened.

“Marina berths are becoming increasingly difficult to secure across the Gold Coast, so including one with every Sky Home makes this a genuinely rare offering,” Long said.

“The private 70-berth marina will accommodate boats up to 12 metres in length and is positioned just 2.5 kilometres from the Broadwater, placing the open ocean only 15 minutes away.

“Being able to step out of your home onto your boat is a rare luxury, and it’s something residents here can look forward to when it opens later this year.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=113271 project_image_fid=366709]

The display opening comes as construction completes on The Waterline, with the first residents expected to move in from mid-October.

The three Sky Homes range from 282 sqm to 367 sqm and each feature three bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive kitchens with butler's pantries and large balconies taking in the Broadwater outlook.

Each residence also has three secure basement car spaces and additional storage.

“This is the first opportunity the Gold Coast has had to step into Harbour Shores and see, touch and feel what we’re bringing to life here,” Long said.

“There are only three Sky Homes within The Waterline, ranging in size from 282sqm to 367sqm, with each residence featuring three large bedrooms, three bathrooms, multiple living zones, expansive custom-built kitchens with butler’s pantry, and large balconies capturing Broadwater views.”

<img alt="Harbour Shores" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bab65e10-4fab-45e1-92d8-fc56e2ab98ff" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-25%20at%202.00.16%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=XT8q76LsPkw3cYTsvN3JfFDaPLud90PN" />

Residents of The Waterline will have access to a private pool, along with Harbour Shores' wider collection of amenity including a lagoon pool, social clubhouse, tennis court, gym, yoga facilities and sauna.

Lewis Land partnered with Studio Collective to furnish the completed display, with the interiors designed to demonstrate how the residences could function as permanent homes rather than simply as show apartments.

Studio Collective Director Melissa Park said the surrounding waterways informed the interiors, but in a more restrained way than a traditional coastal scheme.

“We drew inspiration from the canals and coastal surrounds, but our approach was to interpret that subtly through layered materials and a grounded palette of earthy tones, rather than literal coastal references,” Park said.

“We introduced hero moments of green and teal to reference the surrounding waterways, while mirrored elements help reflect natural light.

“The result is a residence that feels elevated yet comfortable, somewhere buyers can genuinely imagine themselves living, entertaining and unwinding.”

Sky Homes are priced from $3.65 million.

Lewis Land is also offering private marina berths with The Residences, its limited collection of three and four-bedroom villas positioned directly along the Harbour Shores waterfront boardwalk.

Three-bedroom villas are priced from $2.99 million, while four-bedroom residences start from $3.19 million.

Harbour Shores is being marketed by Colliers International.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=113271]

Lewis Land opens sky home display as The Waterline completes at Harbour Shores

St Vincent de Paul Society Housing Australia has filed plans for a major mixed-use housing precinct on the southern edge of the North Sydney CBD, adding another significant proposal to a pocket around North Sydn​ey Station that is quickly becoming one of the LGA's busiest development zones.

The State Significant Development Application covers a 5,990 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1-19-mackenzie-street-lavender-bay-nsw-2060">1-19 MacKenzie Street and 211 Blues Point Road in Lavender Bay</a>, immediately south of Nor​th Sydney Station and between the commercial core and the lower-rise Lavender Bay Heritage Conservation Area.

Designed by Wardle, the proposal would deliver a new residential tower comprising 88 build-to-sell apartments and 19 affordable apartments, alongside a separate co-living building with 57 rooms and a building manager's studio.

It would also see the significant restoration and upgrade of St Francis Xavier Catholic Church, the adaptive reuse of the former school building, new parish facilities, retail, a new public square and around 1,000 sqm of publicly accessible open space.

<img alt="Vinnies North Sydney" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d5dd7f87-a617-463e-b577-17541e01f0e9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.13%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=4R8TsFN3P_LrrXO2HswTOIrx2blil8lh" />

The project is seeking a concurrent rezoning of the site to R4 High Density Residential and an increase in the maximum building height to allow a tower reaching RL120, or up to 20 storeys. The proposal was progressed through the NSW Government's Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

The build-to-sell component will be weighted toward larger apartments, with just six one-bedroom apartments compared with 31 two-beds, 43 three-beds and eight four-bedroom residences.

The 19 affordable apartments will comprise two studios, 15 one-bedroom apartments and two two-bedroom apartments, taking the total apartment component to 107 residences before the 58 co-living rooms are included.

<img alt="Vnnies" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7d568ca5-cb90-4e18-96c6-d9795dba0c56" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.10.05%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GY2R5M9VtQh0EKy1vajaea19PSLOPuRD" />

Wardle's design for the Vinnies site has sought to negotiate that emerging high-rise context while retaining the lower-scale character of MacKenzie Street and the adjoining heritage conservation area.

The main building adopts a three-storey podium and tower arrangement, with the podium aligned to the ridgeline and front setback of St Francis Xavier Church.&nbsp;Wardle has designed the podium with colonnades, seating, recessed entries and active ground-floor frontages, with sandstone-toned precast concrete and face brick referencing the materiality of the existing church.

The tower then steps back eight metres to the south and six metres to the north before rising in a sculpted form comprising four interlocking quadrants. Wardle has also introduced rounded forms and chamfered corners to reduce the tower's perceived bulk and improve view sharing with neighbouring development sites.

Resident facilities and outdoor areas are planned at the separation between the podium and tower at Level 3, oriented toward Sydney Harbour and the CBD skyline.

The tower itself will feature a glass reinforced concrete facade, with recessed balconies and deep reveals used both to provide shading and privacy and frame views toward the harbour and city. The lower levels take a different architectural approach, using brick and sandstone-toned finishes intended to establish a stronger relationship with St Francis Xavier Church. The Church itself will be conserved and upgraded for its continued use, while the former school building will be adaptively reused as part of the co-living component.

<img alt="Lavendar Bay" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2d4418ad-90aa-4d49-af93-c80b140aea80" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%209.09.47%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=Kv4gzbsACaGvZSRuaqcfGC54jEJRXIDJ" />

&nbsp;

The proposal adds to an increasingly concentrated pipeline of residential development around Blue Street, MacKenzie Street and Lavender Bay.

Just west of the site, Central Element lodged plans earlier this year for one of the most significant residential developments proposed in Lavender Bay in recent years.

Central Element's SJB-designed scheme at 64-66 Lavender Street and 3-7 Middlemiss Street would deliver 163 apartments across two towers rising 23 and 32 storeys, replacing five existing apartment buildings containing 32 homes. The project also forms part of the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-central-element-reveals-lavender-bay-apartment-plans?utm_source=chatgpt.com" rel="noopener" target="_blank">First look: Central Element reveals Lavender Bay apartment plans</a>

Immediately around North Sy​dney Station, another two significant proposals have emerged at 5 and 15 Blue Street.

Zurich Australian Insurance Properties is seeking to adaptively reuse its longstanding commercial building at 5 Blue Street, directly above North Sydney Station, rather than demolishing the structure.

Its SSDA proposes converting the building into a 14-storey mixed-use development with 62 apartments and 86 co-living rooms, together with ground-floor retail and a major refurbishment of Blue Street Plaza. The application is currently at the Response to Submissions stage.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-zurich-targets-north-sydney-office-conversion-with-148-unit-proposal-above-metro-station">First look: Zurich targets North Sydney office conversion with 148-unit proposal above Metro station</a>

&nbsp;

First look: Vinnies files for 20-storey Lavender Bay apartment tower as North Sydney housing pocket heats up

When the opportunity arose for South Australian developer Palumbo to return to Kent Town, where it had previously delivered East Park Apartments and the East 
Rundle Apartments, it wasn't one the longstanding developer-builder was going to pass up.

The decision was quickly vindicated, with more than 30 apartments sold within the first month of launching <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/royal-apartments-kent-town-2-8-north-terrace-kent-town-sa-5067">Royal Apartments</a> to the market.

The 206-apartment development, which will bring significant new supply to Adelaide's tightly held eastern city fringe, also gives <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/palumbo">Palumbo</a> the opportunity to bring new life to one of Kent Town's most recognisable watering holes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376073]

Royal Apartments incorporates the historic Royal Hotel, a venue Palumbo Managing Director Daniel Palumbo said has a longstanding connection with the local community.

"Everyone in the area has history with the Royal Hotel," Palumbo told Apartments.com.au.

"It was quite an active pub and social gathering place for locals. We want to bring it back to its former glory."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376072]

The wider development will comprise two residential towers alongside the restored hotel, sitting on North Terrace opposite the Adelaide Park Lands.

For Palumbo, the project also marks a return to familiar territory.

The developer completed East Park Apartments next door more than a decade ago and jumped at the opportunity to develop in Kent Town again when the Royal Hotel site became available.

"The opportunity emerged, and we moved to secure the site," Palumbo said.

"We were approached by the previous landowner, who said they had extensive commitments in Sydney and weren't in a position to deliver the project.

"We took over the site and within six months recut the design scheme to be more in keeping with the type of development we want to bring to Adelaide.

"Now we're on the market and those changes have really resonated with local buyers."

That has translated into a strong start to sales, with 33 apartments transacting in the project's first 35 days.

Palumbo said the early purchaser profile had been consistent with the group's traditional focus on owner-occupiers rather than investor-led apartment stock.

"Local owner-occupiers have always been our market," he said.

"There are always some investors, but we've never developed what would be called traditional development stock. Owner-occupiers are very much our market."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376068]

The buyer mix has been diverse so far, with downsizers and younger professionals both accounting for a significant portion of early sales.

South Australia's current stamp duty settings, which allow&nbsp;eligible homeowners in South Australia aged 60 savings of up to $103,830 on stamp duty when they downsize to a new property valued at up to $2 million,&nbsp;have helped encourage downsizer activity, while younger buyers in their late 20s and early 30s have been attracted to the opportunity to live immediately outside the CBD while still being able to walk into the city.



Location has been a major part of the proposition for both buyer cohorts.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376075]

Royal Apartments sits on North Terrace directly opposite the Adelaide Park Lands, with residents able to walk through the parklands toward the East End, Rundle Street and Rundle Mall.

Apartments have been positioned to capture views across the parklands, Adelaide skyline, Botanic Gardens and Adelaide Hills.

Palumbo believes the scarcity of developable land along this section of the Park Lands makes the site particularly difficult to replicate.

"There's very few allotments on that side that can be developed," he said.

"If this location was in New York and you were sitting on Central Park, you'd be talking about a $60 million apartments."

Royal Apartments will offer a broad mix of residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to four-bedroom sub-penthouses and penthouses.

Current listings include one-bedroom apartments from $680,000, while larger three and four-bedroom residences are priced around $2.5 million.

Residents will have access to a swimming pool, gym, barbecue and recreation areas, residents' lounge and dining space, and a communal deck.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=6109 project_image_fid=376067]

The apartments will feature generous balconies, while secure parking, bicycle storage and storage cages will also be provided.

A porte-cochère-style arrival and drop-off area has also resonated with buyers, particularly those attracted to being able to walk into the CBD during the day while retaining secure vehicle access at home.

Palumbo is acting as developer, architect and builder on Royal Apartments, continuing the vertically integrated model it has used across its South Australian portfolio.

The group was also behind the $150 million Sofitel Adelaide, the 251-room five-star hotel and residential tower which opened in 2021.

Palumbo said Royal's launch had come at an interesting time for the broader Adelaide apartment market.

Buyer confidence had initially been impacted by uncertainty surrounding the Federal Budget and broader economic conditions, but Palumbo believes sentiment is beginning to improve against a backdrop of significant investment flowing into South Australia.

He pointed to increased activity across defence and resources, including Olympic Dam, as potential long-term drivers of the state's economy and housing market.

"Money is starting to flow into Adeliade, significant amounts as Adelaide bucks the trend of the rest of the country.," Palumbo said.

"There's a lot of activity in the economy over the next decade. I think more investment will come into this market."

Early works on Royal Apartments are expected to commence this year, with major construction activity and cranes anticipated on site from early next year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=6109]

Palumbo's return to Kent Town strikes early chord with buyers

Go-to builder-developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/graya">GRAYA</a> is continuing to bulk out its already impressive and diverse apartment portfolio across South East Queensland. Their latest milestone is securing development approval for Silk, its boutique riverfront apartment development in St Lucia.

The approval clears&nbsp;the way for the team to begin construction planning for the 22-residence project.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/silk-st-lucia-16-18-sandford-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">Silk</a> will rise 15 levels from an 810 sqm site at 16-18 Sandford Street, occupying a prominent bend of the Brisbane River with a prized northern aspect across Orleigh Park toward the Brisbane CBD.

The approved scheme will comprise 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences, continuing GRAYA's move into larger-format apartment developments targeting Brisbane's prestige owner-occupier market.

The project has been designed around the site's broad river frontage and dual-direction views, with GRAYA prioritising larger residences, privacy and outlook over apartment yield.

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="aa5c2349-f96c-4914-a812-1f2cd6827af8" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.44%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=WY0vEU_7vYjeRJKQHiCwFdMxu8PvFh52" />

GRAYA Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Rob Gray said the project had been shaped around local homeowners wanting to remain in St Lucia without maintaining a traditional family home.

"St Lucia is one of those suburbs people do not want to leave," Gray said.

"They know the river, the trees, UQ, the golf course, Toowong and Indooroopilly, and that familiarity is hard to replace.

"True riverfront opportunities here are exceptionally scarce. What we have designed at Silk is a way to stay in the suburb people love, with the scale and privacy of a private home and far less to maintain.

"This is not typical apartment product. It is a proper home on the river, and that is exactly what this market has been missing."

The approval comes as new apartment development continues to increase across the St Lucia and neighbouring Toowong corridor, although direct riverfront sites remain considerably more tightly held.

GRAYA Co-founder and Managing Director Andrew Gray said securing the approval had removed a significant element of development risk from Silk.

"Genuine riverfront sites of this quality in St Lucia are not something that comes up regularly," Gray said.

"The approval removes a substantial layer of execution risk, and the location underwrites demand in a way very few inner-city sites can.

"The fundamentals here are as strong as anything we have assessed in Brisbane."

<img alt="Silk St Lucia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d0f3d734-65e1-48e8-8ed3-2e0715ffcdd9" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-26%20at%208.25.56%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=sOLSs_jdHkXLWbBKzRyayf5BfTb2vPsD" />

Silk will see GRAYA return to a stretch of the Brisbane River where it already has recent construction experience. The vertically integrated group recently completed ARC in neighbouring Toowong as builder for developer Spyre, delivering the riverfront project on a constrained site.

GRAYA will take a different role at Silk, controlling the project from design and development through construction and aftercare under its vertically integrated model.

The development will include a gym and resident leisure areas at ground level, integrated with the river's edge.

Silk joins a growing pipeline for GRAYA across Brisbane and the Gold Coast, which includes Enclave, The Gallery, Coral and Ripple.

The developer-builder has also recently lodged plans for its largest project to date, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-silo-19-chester-street-newstead-qld-4006">The Silo</a>, a proposed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/graya-buys-frasers-newstead-site-plans-the-silo-between-james-street-and-gasworks-precincts">$700 million mixed-use development</a> in Brisbane's James Street precinct.

Silk is expected to predominantly target local owner-occupiers and prestige buyers seeking a permanent riverfront home in Brisbane's inner west.

Registrations of interest are now open, with further details on the project and construction program to be released as it progresses.

<hr />
<h2>SILK PROJECT FACTS</h2>

Developer-builder: GRAYA

Project: Silk

Location: 16-18 Sandford Street, St Lucia

Apartments: 22

Built form: 15 levels

Site: 810 sqm riverfront holding

Mix: 16 split-floor and six full-floor residences

Status: Development approved

Next step: Construction planning underway

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=152168]

GRAYA greenlit for riverfront St Lucia apartment development, Silk

The Block

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The two penthouse apartments reigned supreme with the highest price per square meterage in the competition, however it was netball duo Bianca and Carla who scored the best.
Their $15,207.45 price per square metre, which generally doesn't include outdoor space, was secured by The Agency's Michael Paproth and Peter Kakos.
Both of the penthouse apartments were <a href="/news/melbourne-construction-digital-entrepreneur-rob-phillpot-scores-both-block-gatwick-penthouses">bought by digital construction entrepreneur</a> Rob Phillpot.
There was an even bigger difference when including the terrace in the price per sqm calculations. <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/5-34-fitzroy-street-st-kilda-vic-3182-2014552057" target="_blank">Bianca and Carla's apartment</a> cost nearly $1,000 per sqm more than second place and The Block winners Hayden and Sara.
<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/images/2018/10/30/per-sqm.jpg" target="_blank">Click here</a> to enlarge:
<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/2018/10/30/per-sqm.jpg" alt="">
Hayden and Sara, to everyone's surprise, <a href="/news/mcgrath-secures-surprise-block-gatwick-top-price">won the competition when their unit sold for $3.02 million,</a> the only apartment to clear the $3 million mark despite the penthouses being priced much higher.
The New South Wales couple took home $645,000 including the season 14 prize money.
 
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

The Agency secure top Gatwick price per sqm

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The two sisters who previously owned and operated The Block Gatwick secured Courtney and Hans’ apartment for $2,770,000.
Hans and Courtney saw an opening $2.2 million offer from an absentee bid <a href="/news/the-block-st-kilda-apartment-to-use-online-auction-tool-gavl-on-finale-night">via the Gavl app.</a>
The <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/2-34-fitzroy-street-st-kilda-vic-3182-2014552033" target="_blank">2/34 Fitzroy Street</a> offering came with a $2.4 million reserve adjusted to $2.36 million with five registered buyers.
Courtney and Hans’ whose apartment sold for $2,770,000, some $410,000 over reserve.
<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/2018/10/29/Hans2.jpg" alt="">
It was their mother Vittoria Carbone or ‘Queen Vicky’, who is fondly remembered for her compassionate management of the hotel and her legacy was then carried on by her daughters Rose and Yvette.
"As this building has a significant value for the sisters, they were delighted to have been able to purchase this apartment as a beautiful piece of memorabilia," their buyers' agent Greville Pabst from PropertyDuo advised.
"The apartment will be leased out to struggling families, so in this way they’re able to keep the tradition alive of The Gatwick being a place helping the local community in need,"he added.
 
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Gatwick sisters return to secure Hans and Courtney's Block apartment

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In the first of the five Block Gatwick auctions, Kerrie and Spence sold for $2.85 million to an Australian lawyer based in Singapore who is planning on leasing it out and then living there when he moves back to Melbourne.
The dream kitchen worth $250,000 is what PropertyDuo buyers' agent Greville Pabst found to be very alluring in the apartment. It scored a perfect 30/30 from the judges in kitchen week.
<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/2018/10/29/spence2.jpg" alt="">
The <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/1-34-fitzroy-street-st-kilda-vic-3182-2014552025" target="_blank">1/34 Fitzroy Street, </a>offering had a $2.45 million formal reserve with a $15,000 adjustment based on a contestant winning discount which took the reserve to $2.435 million.
The formal price guidance had been $2.5 million to $2.7 million which attracted eight potential buyers who'd registered.
The opening bid at $2.4 million was taken by David Wood of Hocking Stuart with just the three competitive bidders.
Kerrie and Spence secured $415,000 in prize winnings above their reserve.
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Singapore based expat lawyer secures Kerrie and Spence's The Block Gatwick apartment

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Sara and Hayden were the surprise top sellers of The Block series, after the Gatwick penthouse auctions performed poorly.
The luxury northwest facing apartment with 240 square metres of internal space was rare for the area.
Sara and Hayden secured a stellar $3.02 million sale for the <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/3-34-fitzroy-street-st-kilda-vic-3182-2014552048" target="_blank">3/34 Fitzroy Street</a> offering which had an official $2.5 million reserve, with the couple taking home a "life changing" $645,000 including the Season 14 prize money.
The McGrath price guidance had been $2.5 million to $2.7 million.
Their reserve had been adjusted to $2.475 million after they secured a discount during the competition.
With reportedly eight registered buyers, bidding opened at $2.5 million with the buyers' agent Nicole Jacobs who emerged as the top bidder. 
Sara and Hayden took home the winnings above reserve of $545,000, plus the $100,000 prize.
Hayden and Sara shocked audiences when they won the first challenge of the year and opted to renovate Apartment 3 in the old Gatwick, bypassing the chance to build a brand-new, luxurious penthouse. 
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It was auctioned by McGrath chief auctioneer Scott Kennedy-Green, who returned to The Block after an eight-year break.
“Despite lower clearance rates and a slowdown in the Melbourne market, this is a testament that well-presented properties will always have the edge,” he concluded.
Over the years, McGrath Estate Agents has marketed five properties for The Block, all auctioned by Scott Kennedy-Green.
They have received the top price on three occasions and won the show twice; the first time with John and Neisha in 2010, who pocketed $305,000 as winners for a 2-bedroom ground floor apartment in Vaucluse, Sydney.
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McGrath founder John McGrath noted The Block had captivated the attention of all Australians for almost two decades.
"We’re delighted to have represented Hayden and Sara to win this year’s event.
“They did a great job renovating their apartment and fully deserve the win. 
"And whilst it is a blockbuster TV show these are also real sales to real buyers, so we apply the same sales strategies to The Block as we apply to all sales. 
"We are so proud of our St Kilda team for their extraordinary efforts.”
The Block winners Sara and Hayden were the show’s lowest-scoring winners, recording the poorest judges’ scores of the season and the highest number of room reveal losses since the weekly wins begun being awarded 11 seasons ago.
Across nine weeks of room judging, the couple won just one room – the master bedroom – and came last in the judging of the apartment’s main bathroom, first guest bedroom, master en suite, living and dining space and hallway, laundry and powder room.
 
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McGrath secures surprise Block Gatwick top price

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Rob Phillpot, the co-founder of construction software company Aconex, was the mystery buyer of both of the penthouse apartments in the The Block Gathwick for $5.85 million through PropertyDuo.
Using buyers' agent Greville Pabst, his first acquisition was when Norm and Jess sold their penthouse for $2,859,000 (top and below).
He had inspected the Gatwick only two nights before the auction.
The <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/4-34-fitzroy-street-st-kilda-vic-3182-2014552052" target="_blank">Fitzroy Street</a> penthouse offering came with a $2.65 million reserve with five registered buyers.
There was very cautious bidding after its $2.5 million opening bid from another buyers agent Frank Valentic.
Pabst thought the buy "was a very good value" for the south facing apartment with four-metre-high ceilings and massive terrace. Pabst indicated he was prepared to pay more, but there wasn’t competition.
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Norm and Jess took home $209,000 in prize money.
The next acquisition by Phillpot was the penthouse of Bianca and Carla (below) for $2,991,000, after a tense auction when the auctioneer refused to take a $2.7 million opening bid.
"This is worth $3.25 million," Damien Cooley suggested.
The <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/5-34-fitzroy-street-st-kilda-vic-3182-2014552057" target="_blank">5/34 Fitzroy Street</a> penthouse, which doesn't face Fitzroy Street, had a $2.7 million reserve.
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The price guidance had been adjusted upwards during the campaign by The Agency to between $2.6 million to $2.8 million. 
Bianca and Carla took home $301,000 in prize money.
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It was in the late 1990s when Aconex was founded in a kitchen by the two Scotch College school friends, Phillpot and Leigh Jasper.
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In a deal, announced in December 2017, the company was sold to the global tech giant Oracle.
The friends had started thinking about ways in which the internet could help companies deal with large amounts of data and information.
At the time Jasper was at McKinsey &amp; Company, working in CEO strategy, and Phillpot was a project manager at Multiplex Constructions and was facing the challenge of handling thousands of documents on construction projects.
The takeover deal was the largest ever achieved by a listed Australian tech company and saw Jasper and Philpott walk away with approximately $94 million and $88 million respectively.
Phillpot's home town is Warrnambool.
He had not watched any episodes of The Block.
“I came and looked at the penthouses, and they were both amazing,” he said after the auctions.
“I couldn’t pick."
He had not yet decided if he would rent them to long-term tenants or look at short-stay options such as Airbnb. 
Experts have tipped the penthouses could fetch between $2000 and $2500 a night on Airbnb.
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Melbourne construction digital entrepreneur Rob Phillpot scores both Block Gatwick penthouses

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The Block St Kilda apartment of Western Australian couple Courtney and Hans will have the advantage of using Gavl, the live online bidding app, when it comes to auction night at the end of this month.
Gavl is a digital platform for live bidding and live streaming real estate auctions.
They're likely to receive a wider buyer pool, and would appeal to the more private, interstate and overseas parties.
The auction of the three bedroom, two bathroom apartment at 2/34 Fitzroy Street will be live streamed on Gavl to registered bidders.
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Gavl representatives will be on site to announce any bids from the remote buyers as they come through the app.
Courtney and Hans' apartment is the largest at nearly 300 square metres. They decided to create the largest living space in Block history.
The apartment, which won the first room reveal on this years show for its main bathroom, has the lowest price guide among all five apartments at $2.2 million to $2.4 million.
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It will be a first for the reality renovation program in Australia, but a winning bidder was found on The Block New Zealand.
Buyer Mike Wyth won the auction, spending $921,500, from his own home.
Gavl CEO Joel Smith said they had great success with The Block NZ purchase.
“We’re thrilled to be helping Courtney, Hans and Wilson Agents when the apartment sells under the hammer in a couple of weeks’ time," he said.
"We had great success when Gavl partnered with The Block NZ this year to enable remote bidding on all the property auctions in the season finale.
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"One of the NZ apartments sold to a buyer who was bidding through Gavl – so we’re excited to be a part of the Australian version, and hopefully achieve a similar result.”
Wilson Agents agent Jesse Raeburn, who is marketing the apartment for Courtney and Hans, says it will be a target for investor.
 “With strong rental returns prospects and a significant depreciation schedule, this property is a great opportunity for any investor," he said.
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"At Wilson Agents, we’ve been using Gavl in our auctions for some time and have been highly impressed with its benefits and convenience for all parties – particularly among investors. 
"As a result, we didn’t have to think twice about using Gavl for this auction on The Block, as our past experiences have shown that it will draw a greater bidding audience and thereby help increase the sales price."
On average, auctions streamed via Gavl attract 47% more viewers than traditional auctions – maximising the sales potential of properties
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The Block St Kilda apartment to use online auction tool Gavl on finale night

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Sticks and Wombat’s Elsternwick renovation from the last season of The Block sold after its weekend auction.
Listed with initial $2.65 millionth $2.75 million price hopes, it fetched $2.83 million <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-elsternwick-129120878" target="_blank">through Michael Paproth and Peter Kakos at The Agency</a>.
<div class="page" title="Page 1">There were two bidders and no television cameras when the five-bedroom, four-bathroom home went to its onsite Sunday afternoon auction.</div>
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<div class="page" title="Page 1">Passed in at $2.66 million, its sold vert shortly after negotiations to a family from the inner south-eastern suburbs.</div>
The 46B Regent Street last sold for $2.65 million amid the Block's typical frenzy last October.
Larrikins, Mark “Sticks” Croker and Clint “Wombat” Price were fourth place getters on the stressful renovation television series.
Taking home a profit of $130,000, it had been built with an extensive use of reclaimed timber.
The New South Wales representatives had been judged as having the best hallway, front facade and garden.
Canberra was the standout capital city at weekend auctions with the strongest preliminary clearance rate of 68.1 percent, according to CoreLogic.
Prices ranged between $450,500 at Barton and $1.5 million at Braddon.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/31-43-blackall-street-barton-act/property-details-buy-residential-12073654/" target="_blank">The one-bedroom Barton apartment</a> (below) had 69sqm of living space plus a 37 sqm balcony, security car space and storage cage.
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Set in the 2004-built Landmark, the Blackall Street property had been a $430 a week rental in 2016.
The <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-act-braddon-129144866" target="_blank">46B Girrahween Street, Braddon</a> offering was a single level, four bedroom home with private easy care gardens. 
Built in 2003, the property has tenanted at $1,000 per week increasing this month to $1,025 per week until July 2019 
It rates were advised as $1,044 pq and its land tax as $1,760 pq.
Only 45.1 percent of Brisbane homes sold including the nation's cheapest weekend result.
It was a $150,000 home at <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-russell+island-128985554" target="_blank">14 Akebia Street, Russell Island</a> (below) which was sold under mortgagee instruction. Russell Island is the biggest of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands, situated between the mainland and North Stradbroke Island.
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The three bedroom home had been for sale earlier this year at $229,000 with $235 a week tenancy on offer.
The combined capital cities saw an increase in the number of homes taken to auction to 1,985 auctions held, up from 1,916 auctions.
The preliminary auction clearance of 55 percent was lower than the previous week’s 55.3 per cent final clearance rate.
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"This week’s clearance rate is the lowest preliminary result seen so far this year, it will be interesting to see how this revises as final results are collected," CoreLogic auction analyst Kevin Brogan said.
"So far the Spring selling season has seen a lower volume of auctions take place each week relative to the same period last year, demonstrating the reluctance within a softening market," he added.
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There were 991 Melbourne homes taken to auction this week, down on one year ago's much higher 1,265 homes.
Melbourne posted a preliminary clearance rate of 57.2 per cent.
Melbourne cheapest sale was a studio apartment at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/302-18-34-station-street-sandringham-vic/property-details-buy-residential-12049262/" target="_blank">302/18-34 Station St, Sandringham</a> (below) which fetched $275,000.
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A kew home was Melbourne's dearest. The renovated 1890s Victorian house at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/real-estate/2-belmont-avenue-kew-vic/property-details-sold-residential-12065448/" target="_blank">2 Belmont Avenue, Kew</a> (below), offering with a price guide of $3.5 million to $3.85 million, sold to a Kew downsizer for $3.83 million.
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In Sydney, 52.6 per cent of properties sold, with 665 homes taken to market.
Last year, there were 916 Sydney homes taken to auction with 64.2 per cent being sold.
Sydney has the nation's top sale which was secured in a pre-auction offer for 15 Kareelah Road, Hunters Hill.
The five bedroom non-riverfront <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/property-house-nsw-hunters+hill-129088850" target="_blank">1871 sandstone residence Doonbah</a>, set on the peninsula with views over the Parramatta River back to the city, fetched $5.61 million through Tracey Dixon at McGrath.
There had been a $4.85 million price guide.
It was sold by Matt and Jo Sandford, founders of online personal card seller Yellow Postie.
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Sticks and Wombat Elsternwick cottage renovation resold for slightly more

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The Block have released their own special edition version of Monopoly, which offers buyers of the game a chance to win one of the renovated apartments in St Kilda's Gatwick Hotel.
It is unknown whose apartment they will win, nor what will happen to that apartment on the live auction day finale.
The Block have teamed up with Imagination Gaming and Winning Moves International Limited, an authorised licensee of Hasbro, to create the game.
Inside each Monopoly game is a unique numbered Golden Ticket, which, once registered, puts fans in the draw to win an apartment. 
All 14 series feature in the popular family pasttime. The Dux House in Albert Park takes the coveted Mayfair spot.
Scott Cam, who is Mr Monopoly, said its the best prize he's ever heard of.
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“The Blockheads have done a fantastic renovation on the iconic Gatwick, and to think someone will have the chance to win a multi-million-dollar apartment just by buying MONOPOLY – The Block Special Edition is incredible," he said.
Nine's director of commercial development Alison Hurbert-Burns said its the biggest prize in Australian TV history.
“Bringing The Block and Monopoly together to create the biggest prize in Australian TV history is a first that we think our audience will love," she said.
"This is the kind of brand integration that takes The Block beyond the screen and provides new ways for fans to be involved with the show."
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

The Block Monopoly to offer renovated Gatwick apartment prize

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The first house renovated by The Block winners Kyal and Kara Demmrich after they left the show has hit the market again.
Kyal and Kara sold the Killarney Vale home in 2015 for $735,000, having transformed the 1970s home after paying $285,000 in 2008.
Now a contemporary family entertainer, the home has four bedrooms, a study, and a designer kitchen.
A mezzanine level features more living space, and a covered entertaining deck opens to the rear garden.
The home is going to auction with a $970,000 guide.
The couple sold to buy their current home, a four bedroom property at Toowoon Bay.
Late last year they offloaded their Long Jetty renovation that they had been documenting room by room on their joint Instagram account.
They pocketed $1.59 million, over double the $710,000 they paid just 11 months earlier.
They retain another renovation project, a Bateau Bay renovation.
After paying $580,000 four years ago, the couple undertook small scale renovation on the old fibro cottage.
There were no structural changes, just a modern facelift.
After ripping out the old tired carpets, there's rustic timber flooring throughout the home that sits on a 640 square metre parcel a stones throw from the beach.
They recently sought $460 a week. They were asking $395 before the renovation.
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Killarney Vale home renovated by The Block's Kyal and Kara Demmrich for sale

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Comedian Dave Hughes, who last year bought one of the overpriced The Block Elsternwick houses as an investment, has distanced himself from buying any from this year's series.
But he has been shown through the apartments that are now open for private inspection.
"I've said to them it's no its going to happen, but I've been through it," he said.
"I've tapped out," he said on Triple M Breakfast with Eddie Maguire, Luke Darcy and Will Anderson.
The listings went live late last month, two months before the finale on October 29.
The extended sales marketing suggesting the agents have a big ask ahead of them to find the required $2 million plus buyers.
Hughes reserved praise for the two penthouses.
"The two on top, the penthouses, are great," he said. 
"The two on top are definitely the best.
"The views back to the city of Melbourne, you can see over the Bay as well, are incredible."
He said there are still a lot of colourful characters down there on Fitzroy Street.
"The builder said that people turn up everyday just to hang out thinking it's going to be renovated and opened as the Gatwick again," Hughes jested.
Darcy suggested that it sounded like he's "trying to scare a few other perspective buyers away".
Hughes even suggested he had one of the real estate agents say the contestants could have designed it just how he wanted it.
"They said we can put in your order and we get one of the couples to build your flat."
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