Repeat buyers are one of the strongest measures of confidence in any apartment development.

At <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/era-newcastle-west-124-126-bull-street-newcastle-west-nsw-2302">ERA</a> in Newcastle West, some purchasers are returning to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gwh">GWH</a> after living at the developer's One Apartments. Their decision to purchase again was driven by the quality of life they found after moving into their first GWH home.

Keith Wilton had spent years living in a house in East Maitland before deciding it was time for a change. Apartment living had always been on his radar, but he was selective about what he wanted.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FH_1EzB-1vs?si=XScVlP1ERsTDJoME" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

"I had some boxes I wanted to tick," he says.

Keith points to the open-plan design, generous outdoor areas and considered inclusions as key reasons One Apartments worked for him.

“One of those things was a nice indoor open plan area, but also I wanted a nice outdoor open area that I could entertain on in summer or Christmases or birthdays,” he says.

He also found value in the smaller details, from integrated appliances to shared resident spaces including the pool, cinema and rooftop areas.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356818]

After comparing several developments, he chose One Apartments because of GWH's longstanding local reputation and his own experience working with the developer on a commercial project more than a decade earlier.

"I knew that they were local, that the quality of the build was going to be up there. I'd looked at other apartment complexes around and close by, and I just knew that here was a better decision location wise."

Today, Keith says the move has completely changed how he experiences Newcastle.

"I enjoy living in this location because it's more of a lifestyle change. That Newcastle city living where you can walk to restaurants and bars and even beaches and parks and even shopping across the road."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356828]

Beyond the location, he says it's the sense of community that has surprised him most.

"Everyone loves living here because they chose to live here, but everyone looks out for each other. It's a real great community feel here."

For Aimee and Lyle Goodman, the journey started almost by chance.

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The couple happened to be having coffee in Newcastle when they noticed the site where One Apartments was about to begin construction.

"We were aware GWH was planning a development," Aimee says. "We made one phone call and things moved pretty quickly after that."

As busy business owners, they initially thought apartment living would simply reduce the maintenance that came with larger homes. Instead, it fundamentally changed how they spent time together.

"We actually catch up more as a family now," Aimee says.

"We've had homes with big yards and lots of space, but everyone ended up in different rooms. Here we'll have dinner together, the kids can play, and we spend far more quality time together."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356829]

Lyle says their confidence came from GWH's reputation within Newcastle's building industry.

"I know people who've worked across different apartment projects, and whenever GWH came up the feedback was always the same. They're rock solid. They're quality."

That confidence only grew throughout the buying process.

"One of the things that really impressed us with GWH was the whole process, was the communication," Lyle says. "It was consistent, it was regular, there was no problem if we had some weird questions, there was no problems in getting answers."

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Aimee says one moment stood out.

"The project actually finished on time. We realised we needed to hurry up and sell our house because everything was happening exactly when they said it would."

The positive experience at One Apartments ultimately gave all three buyers the confidence to purchase again with GWH, this time at ERA.

Their confidence reflects what many buyers are seeking in today's apartment market. Location remains important, but so too does certainty around delivery, quality and long-term liveability.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356822]

ERA builds on those foundations with 280 one, two and three-bedroom apartments across two landmark towers in <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/newcastle-west-nsw-2302">Newcastle West</a>.&nbsp;

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/fk-australia">Fender Katsalidis</a>, the project will include more than 2,000 square metres of resident amenities, including a resort-style pool, gym, sauna, private cinema and rooftop entertaining spaces overlooking the harbour and coastline.&nbsp;

The development is also within walking distance of the Newcastle Interchange, Honeysuckle, Darby Street, the harbour foreshore, restaurants, retail and the city’s beaches, continuing the walkable lifestyle that existing GWH buyers say has transformed how they live.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=356826]

For Keith, the appeal remains straightforward.

"You feel at home even before you've moved into your home."

For Aimee, the change is measured in time.

“I just felt like I had more time,” she says.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=135096 project_image_fid=351102]

Construction at ERA is now underway, with more than half of the residences already sold and limited two and three-bedroom apartments remaining in the East Tower release. Priced from $980,000 for two-bedroom residences and $1.46 million for three-bedroom residences, buyers can secure an apartment with a 10 per cent deposit, with premium homes offering ocean views from Level 8 and harbour views from Level 10.

ERA is also backed by Resilience Insurance's 10-year Latent Defects Insurance policy, providing protection against structural or waterproofing defects for 10 years after completion. The project is anticipated to be completed in early 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=135096]

Joel Robinson

From ONE to ERA: Why buyers are choosing GWH again in Newcastle West

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

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Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

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The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

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The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

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Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=102717]

Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

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Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

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Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=5743]

The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

The Block

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Bold Living has welcomed stars of TV show The Block, Will and Karlie Bethune, to the team, with the Queensland medium home builder naming the Brisbane couple as brand ambassadors.
Will and Karlie, who pocketed $815,000 in winning the 2016 series, will represent Bold Living.
They will participate in master-class style workshops and display home open days, as part of the new partnership.
Bold Living director Brett Boulton said the couple’s design flair and passion for the industry were a suitable fit for the fast-growing builder.
“We were delighted to host Will and Karlie at the recent launch of the Evolve Design Studio – our design showroom that is a one-stop-shop for anyone planning a new home build,” he said.
“Not only were we impressed by their natural style, but their energy, warmth  and ability to ‘think outside the box’ - qualities that match the team at Bold Living.   
<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/2017/07/03/Brett%20Boulton%20with%20Will%20and%20Karlie%20and%20Arlia%20Rubin%20at%20the%20Evolve%20%20Design%20Studio1%203.jpg" alt="">
They said they can’t wait to share our design ideas to enhance their building experience.
"We’re big fans of coordinating a neutral base palette with pops of colour, greenery and clever lighting design for a classic and modern look.”
Bold was established in 2010 by Mr Boulton and has grown exponentially in key growth areas across South East Queensland, with the company now building more than 200 new homes each year.
Bold Living has been awarded Queensland Medium Professional Builder by peak industry body - Housing Industry Association (HIA) - for the past two consecutive years, demonstrating excellence in all areas of home building.
<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/2017/07/03/LTR%20Brett%20Boulton%20and%20Arlia%20Rubin%20with%202016%20Block%20winners%20Will%20and%20%20Karlie2.jpg" alt="">
The Evolve Design Studio – the largest design showroom of its kind in Queensland - is open at 49 Flinders Parade in North Lakes. 
For further information call 1800 462 653 or visit <a href="https://www.boldliving.com.au" target="_blank">www.boldliving.com.au</a>.
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The Block winners join Queensland home builder Bold

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The Blocktagon apartment in South Yarra designed by The Block's most controversial contestant Suzi Taylor has sold for $2.35 million.
The sale comes after the three bedroom apartment was passed in at $2 million when auctioned early last month when it had a reserve price of $2.35 million.
The apartment sold for $1,829,000 under the hammer. It's the first resale in the block since the 2015 finale of the Channel 9 renovation show.
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Suzi Taylor and Yvonne ‘Vonni’ Cosier pocketed $349,000 after they renovated the fourth floor of the derelict former hotel.
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RT Edgar agent Nikki McCarthy said the property would earn buyers a great rental return with a permanent $1800 a week tenant or as a $485 a night short stay, as it came with most of the furniture from the show.
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<div>This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian's Mansion Australia section.</div>
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Suzi Taylor Blocktagon apartment sold

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The Blocktagon, South Yarra apartment designed by The Block’s most controversial contestant, Suzi Taylor was passed in at $2 million when auctioned on the weekend.
It was offered with $2 million-plus price hopes and had a $2.35 million reserve.
The three-bedroom pad last sold for $1.829 million. It is the first resale in the block since the 2015 finale of the hit renovation show’s eleventh season.
Suzi Taylor and Yvonne ‘Vonni’ Cosier pocketed $349,000 after they renovated the fourth floor of the derelict former hotel.
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Gold Coaster Suzi controversially danced topless on a boat after Oaks Day, collapsed on set and was admitted to hospital during the series.
RT Edgar agent Nikki McCarthy said the property would earn buyers a great rental return with a permanent $1800 a week tenant or as a $485 a night short stay, and came with most of the furniture from the show.
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Black is a feature colour throughout the home. 
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<div class="image-frame">This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.</div>
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Blocktagon unit of Suzi Taylor passed in at auction

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Serial renovators Dea and Darren Jolly, stars of two series of Channel 9 show, The Block, are back at it again.
They picked up the keys on Thursday to a charming unrenovated Sorrento cottage on Melbourne's pricey Mornington Peninsula coastal playground.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-01%20at%2012.46.05%20PM.png" alt="">
It sold for $1.8 million through Sotheby's International agents Rob Curtain and Danielle Vains.
Dea's instragram has been peppered veiled references to the beach house acquisition including plans by Jane Merrylees, her architect, showing the proposed day bed on the verandah that looks out towards Port Phillip Bay with just a glimse of blue waters.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-01%20at%2012.46.48%20PM.png" alt="">
The character-filled 1900 four bedroom residence boasts an array of traditional features including a wrap-around porch, impressive 3.5m-high ceilings, fretwork, sash windows and more. There are two original fireplaces one in the lounge room and another in the kitchen.
"There is enormous potential to renovate and create a truly exceptional period home or rebuild to capture stunning water views from across the road," the marketing suggested with it just moments from the sand and bay trail track.
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The purchase comes six months after they pocketed a nice gain from the sale of their Kew East rebuild with $2.908 million.  
They'd spent a year and about $1 million rebuilding their 1920s Kew East California bungalow after purchasing it in a rundown state for $1.395 million in June last year.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-01%20at%2012.48.14%20PM.png" alt="">
The renovation landed the Jollys in court with the couple’s building and design company DJJ Promotions placed, without conviction, on a two-year good behaviour bond by the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-01%20at%2012.48.48%20PM.png" alt="">
Dea and Dazza's acquisition is a side show to the main event, when the latest series in Elsternwick start filming this week.
Much like the former Swans and Pies ruckman Darren, Aussie model Elyse Knowles is understood to have been enlisted as a celebrity contender for the new season.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-01%20at%2012.49.26%20PM.png" alt="">
Sydney Confidential understands Elyse will be renovating with her partner Josh Barker, however the couple won't be holed up with the other contestants for the full two months of filming at the Melbourne job site.
After several seasons of renovations in apartment blocks, the series will involve restoring houses that have been relocated to the suburban street. 
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-01%20at%2012.50.06%20PM.png" alt="">
The holding was once set to become a school, but neighbours including comedian Gina Riley, famous for Kath and Kim, campaigned against it.
Five time winner Sydney auctioneer Damien Cooley hasn't been signed up quite yet for the auctions later this year.
<img src="https://www.urban.com.au/images/2017/05/01/Screen%20Shot%202017-05-01%20at%2012.50.55%20PM.png" alt="">
Channel 9 will then be staying in Melbourne for its 2018 series too having purchased the infamous Gatwick Hotel on the seedy Fitzroy Street, St Kilda strip.
The Spanish Mission 64 room hotel cost around $15 million with the Block in the process of relocating its permanent occupants.
This article first appeared in the Daily Telegraph.
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The Block's Dea and Darren Jolly buy in Sorrento

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Channel 9 has purchased the infamous Gatwick Hotel in Melbourne's St Kilda as the location for an upcoming series of The Block.
A caveat was placed on the property on Wednesday by a company owned by Nine Entertainment Group.
Channel Nine's The Block was keen to renovate the notorious Gatwick Hotel in Victoria despite its seedy location on Fitzroy Street.
It was originally advertised at $11 million plus when placed on the market in December 2015 through Lemon Baxter
Applications are now closed for a 2017 series with an Elsternwick property location in the mix.
The owners of The Gatwick Hotel, sisters Yvette Kelly and Rose Banks, have declined to confirm a sale of the boarding house.
Residents have been given four months notice of the need to move.
The Gatwick Private Hotel at 34 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda was constructed by 1938, one of a number of substantial apartment buildings or private hotels constructed in St Kilda during the inter-war period. It is a three-storey stuccoed building with three street frontages, executed in a restrained Spanish Mission manner.
The building is built to the property boundaries to the three streets.
The interior of the hotel is highly intact.
On the ground floor the reception office and a spacious (former) telephone booth feature Jacobean dark wood panelling with beveled glass lights above.
The former lounge has a large Adamesque ceiling centre in fibrous plaster.
The staircase has a wrought-iron balustrade with a lyre motif.
The Gatwick Private Hotel has been historically associated with the Carbone family who have owned and managed the building since 1977. Vittoria Carbone or ‘Queen Vicky’, in particular is fondly remembered for her compassionate management of the Hotel and her legacy is carried on by her daughters Rose and Yvette.
The 64 room hotel had been on the market for a year before being removed from the market in October 2016.
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The Block secures the Gatwick on seedy Fitzroy Street, St Kilda

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As Channel Nine officially start casting for the next contestants for season 13 of The Block, it is reported that St Kilda's grubby Gatwick Hotel could be the heroic site to renovate.
It looks like the show, who worked on the seedy Savills Hotel in season 11, are set to make the Gatwick their biggest layout in the show's history. 
The 64 room hotel had been on the market for a year before being removed from the market in October with an ambitious $11 million asking price.
It has been reported by the local papers that the producers of the reality TV series were in serious negotiations however it is yet to be formally apparent as a done deal.
It would be far and away the biggest price the Block will have paid for a development site and would be over double of the $5,025,000 they paid for the Port Melbourne soap factory for the last series.
The Gatwick Hotel traded for $3.04 million in 1998.
It could be renovated by a fresh batch of contestants, with the ad on <a href="https://www.castasugar.com" target="_blank">www.castasugar.com</a> only appearing in the last few days.
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The Block 2017 starts casting contestants as St Kilda's Gatwick Hotel tipped

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The inaugural Block contestants Gavin Atkins and Warren Sonin, or 'Gav and Waz', are off to the Sunshine Coast hinterland having sold their Potts Point apartment.
The interior designer duo have secured a home overlooking <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-cooroy+mountain-123331294" target="_blank">Cooroy Mountain</a>.
It was serendipitous circumstances that they heard about the pending $2.7 million listing which they secured before it hit the market.
Riverdale, which adjoins lush rainforest, is a quality built hillside home that has generous proportions with soaring raked ceilings.
It is about 20 minutes to Noosa's Hastings Street and 25 minutes to Sunshine Coast Airport which will see them continue to service clients of their Sydney business, Designer Boys
They duo recently secured the quick sale of their two bedroom Altair apartment in Potts Point.
The 16th floor unit was about to get a serious redesign when they sold off-market having bought it in November last year for $2,325,000 from the former ABC TV director Paddy Conroy.
<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/2016/12/18/Cooroy%20Mountain.jpg" alt="">
Their latest Sydney property foray came after they had sold Charltons, their Byron Bay hinterland estate of eight years, for $3 million in 2013. 
Charltons was a restored 120 year cottage on a hillside overlooking 24 hectares in the Byron Bay hinterland.
A Northern River’s farmhouse had been trucked to the property which underwent extensive renovations and a contemporary extension completed on a block that cost $610,000 in 2007.
It was 2003 when Sonin and and Atkins got their national profile as stars of the first series of Channel 9 reality TV show The Block.
Crazy John, the phone retailer, paid $670,000 after their makeover to the Bondi Beach apartment.
The article first appeared in the Saturday Telegraph
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Gav and Waz buy at Cooroy Mountain on the Sunshine Coast

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The Channel Nine television series, The Block is more about entertainment than real estate.
But there are always important takeouts from the stressfully quick renovation which concluded with the Sunday night showing of its rather laboured auction finale.
The location of this year's Port Melbourne offerings was brave, not because it sat in the capital city attracting negative headlines around the increasing potential of an oversupply in apartments.
The choice pushed the envelope because Ingles Street is still very much an industrial location, so a b-grade location in most buyers' mind.
For Sydneysiders it would be like flogging prestige apartments on say Canal Road, Tempe.
Notwithstanding the nearby rubbish tip, it will be a cosmopolitan suburb, but not in the immediate future.
Its massive residential development potential is only now kicking in.
Everywhere one looked from the heritage Block apartments, there's development which is potentially a good outcome, but also a poses a risk, and at least a disruptive period for potential buyers.
It will be many years before there is anything like a village atmosphere, so the art deco office apartment offerings were only ever going to appeal to a small number of owner occupiers.
Indeed four of the five apartments were sold to investors including the winning one fitted out very well by the young Queenslanders, Will and Karlie. 
Dan and Carleen Foley’s apartment was bought by a young family of owner-occupiers.
Will and Karlie's ground floor garden apartment sold for $2.6 million, some $715,000 over its conservative reserve. Remarkably the pair only had the ground floor apartment because they came last in a challenge among the contestants.
I am a huge fan of garden apartments as they are a rarity, so should typically always make for good prices and price growth.
With some 200 sq m internal space, plus alfresco deck and lawn, it was the biggest price any apartment on The Block has ever secured, beating the $2.47 million paid in 2014 for an apartment in the converted cinema complx in upmarket Albert Park.
All five sales did much better than the current price per square metre record for Port Melbourne that sits around $7,000. 
There's no doubting the depreciation benefits attracted the investors. 
Buyers secured likely tax deductions upwards of $80,000 in the first year, totalling more than $2 million after 11-plus years of ownership.
Investors were accordingly out in force, lured by the tax treat that investors receive from depreciation.
It was interesting the only criticism of the apartments came not from the posse of buyers' agents, but rather the Melbourne radio comedian, Dave Hughes who got inside by pretending to be a potential buyer. He turned up with his cheque book, and registered for the right to bid, though never raised his auction paddle.
His major issues centred around the height of the ceilings, noting the ground floor apartment, renovated by Karlie and Will, was his obvious preference due to the high ceilings, which then disappointed elsewhere in the apartment complex conversion.
He suggested the apartment won because the ceilings were really high, and as "you got up higher the ceilings get lower and lower."
The comedian was also critical of the parking facilities.
"You've got one car port and you've gotta walk quite a way to get to the car port.
"There's no parking people!"
The 1920s converted soap factory office was, he however acknowledged, "extraordinary."
This article first appeared in the Saturday Daily Telegraph.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Garden apartments are property winners

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GUEST OBSERVER
Washington Brown has crunched the numbers on The Block’s latest development in Melbourne’s inner-city bayside suburb of Port Melbourne, and something just doesn’t add up.
From a financial point of view the development, which consisted of transforming a 1920s art deco building into a luxury apartment block, was one of the worst I have ever seen.
While I understand the magic of television, Channel 9 have outdone David Copperfield in creating the illusion of a profit to the public!.
Let's look at the numbers:
According to reports Channel 9 bought the site for around $5 million, which allowed for 6 apartments. Only 5 were sold on TV and for calculation purposes let’s say the acquisition costs is $4.2 million.
The construction cost and depreciation allowances totalled over $11 million, for the 5 apartments.  
That’s $15.2 million alone in construction and acquisition costs.
It’s worth noting that under the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997 the initial vendor (ie. the developer) has an obligation to pass on the actual costs of construction to the purchaser, where the costs are known.
Let’s not forget there’s then a variety of other costs involved in buying and selling, and undertaking the development, including:
<ul>
<li>Stamp duty</li>
<li>GST on the sale</li>
<li>Demolition</li>
<li>Marketing</li>
<li>Agents’ fees</li>
<li>Legal fees</li>
<li>Interest</li>
<li>Rates</li>
</ul>
Whilst some of these costs may have been avoided due to contra deals, the bulk would have to be outlaid by Channel 9.
I estimate these additional costs to conservatively be $2 million, which brings the total cost to $17.2 million.
The Block’s<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/the-block-2016-will-and-karlie-win-and-take-home-815000-in-prize-money-20161113-gsoefv/" target="_blank"> total sales </a>realised just a little over $12 million, leaving the development in the red by around $5 million, yet it has been indicated that <a href="https://www.domain.com.au/news/the-block-2016-the-auctions/" target="_blank">profits</a> of up to $715,000 were made by the contestants. 
That something David Copperfield would be in awe of.
You know it’s the peak of the market when reality TV shows are pulling rabbits out of a hat to show a profit.
Whilst the contestants may have walked away with some ‘profit’, if the numbers are to be believed as shown on the show that development was a stinker.
Tyron Hyde is director, Washington Brown, and can be contacted <a href="https://www.washingtonbrown.com.au" target="_blank">here</a>.
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How successful was The Block Port Melbourne as a development?

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Over the years The Block contestants have pocketed some pretty impressive sums from their auction sales but it hasn't all been largely over the reserves and champagne celebrations.  
Here's how the Block winners have performed since the show's beginnings in 2003. 
Triple Threat (2015), South Yarra
Winners Darren and Deanne walked away with The Block's highest ever prize, winning a total of $935,000. The three-bedroom property at 4/27 Darling Street was sold by Jellis Craig's Andrew McCann and auctioned by Damien Cooley. The couple's $1.39 million reserve was dismissed with a starting bid of $1.8 million. An active market and growing house prices no doubt contributed to the record-breaking win.
Heritage Art Deco (2016), Port Melbourne
Most recently, Will Bethune and Karlie Cicero walked away with a massive $815,000, the second highest winnings earned by a team on The Block. Their ground floor apartment of the converted 1850s J.Kitchen and Son soap factory at 164 Ingles Street sold for $2.6 million at auction, $715,000 above the reserve. Despite not being a favourite with the show's judges, the art deco apartment was a win with the fans. 
The Blocktagon (2015), South Yarra
The Blocktagon winners Dean and Shay sold their penthouse apartment for $2.3 million, $655,000 over the reserve price. Along with the show's prize money, the couple walked away with $755,000 in total for their work on the old Hotel Seville in South Yarra. The luxury residence was also the third consecutive victory for Jellis Craig's agent Andrew McCann who also sold Dean and Darren's record-breaking Triple Threat apartment in 2015 and Simon and Shannon's winning Glasshouse apartment in Prahran. 
Fans V Faces (2014), Albert Park
Steve and Chantelle pocketed a total of $736,000 for their apartment on the show's Fans V Faves series. Their north-facing Albert Park apartment sold at auction for $2.47 million to a young professional couple with a baby on the way. The city and bay views no doubt helped the 1/47 O’Grady Street apartment sell for well over the reserve. 
The Block (2012), South Melbourne
The Block winners Brad and Lara pocketed $606,000 for their apartment in South Melbourne. The apartment was larger than the other contestant’s and sold for $1.62 million, setting a record for the show at the time.
Glasshouse (2014), Prahran
Glasshouse winners Shannon and Simon won a total of $435,000. The brothers sold their apartment for $1.9 million at auction. The Glasshouse apartment block was located on a main, high-traffic road and contestants had to convert old offices into residential spaces, contributing to the lower figure.
All Stars (2013), Bondi
Phil and Amity claimed the top spot in the show's All Stars series, walking away with a total of $395,000. Their Bondi townhouse sold for $1.67 million.
Sky High (2013), South Melbourne
Alisa and Lysandra won the show’s Sky High series with $395,000, the same amount as Phil and Amity in the All Stars series. Their first-floor apartment featured vertical gardens, an emerging trend at the time, and sold for $1.345 million at auction.
The Block (2010), Vaucluse
Josh and Nisha walked away with $305,000 for their upscale apartment in Vaucluse, Sydney. Only one of four apartments didn’t sell at auction, proving the show’s success was on the rise.
The Block (2003), Bondi
Contestants of The Block’s first season, Adam and Fiona, walked away with a total of $256,000. Having renovated three properties before entering the show, the married couple from Banksia, New South Wales had the most experience of all contestants competing at the time.
The Block (2004), Manly
Jamie and Andrew pocketed $178,000 when their Manly apartment sold for $868,000 at auction. Only two of the four apartments sold at auction making it one of the least successful seasons in The Block’s history.
The Block (2011), Richmond
Polly and Waz were the lowest earning winners ever in The Block series, walking away with just $115,000 in total prize money. Their Richmond apartment was the only one of the season to sell at auction thanks to a downturned market at the time.
The Block has been renewed for a thirteenth season, but aren't saying just where yet.
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