The Gold Coast economy has grown by 25 per cent since 2020/21 to surpass $55 billion, but perhaps the more significant story is what sits behind the headline number.

For decades, the Gold Coast has been viewed through the lens of tourism, lifestyle and population growth. The latest State of the City Report suggests that perception is increasingly out of step with reality.

Released by Invest Gold Coast, the report ranks the Gold Coast as Australia's largest non-capital city economy and, perhaps more notably, second nationally behind Sydney for Economic Complexity, a measure that assesses the diversity and sophistication of an economy.

It's a result that places the Gold Coast ahead of Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, highlighting the extent to which the city's economic base has broadened beyond its traditional industries.

Today, the Gold Coast supports more than 350,000 jobs, is home to over 83,000 businesses and generates $19 billion in annual exports. Manufacturing now accounts for 62 per cent of international export growth, while sectors including health, education, advanced manufacturing, technology and professional services are becoming increasingly important contributors to the local economy.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150017 project_image_fid=372547]

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the report confirmed the city's evolution into one of Australia's most significant economies.

"The Gold Coast economy continues to grow at an incredible pace. This is no surprise to those of us who have watched the evolution up close," Mayor Tate said.

"As one of the most entrepreneurial, investment driven and opportunity focused economies in the country our ambition has been realised and possibilities are endless.

"The Gold Coast has built a reputation as the city that says yes. We say yes to investment, yes to opportunity and yes to people who want to build something.

"It's this mindset helping us drive major growth across health, advanced manufacturing, screen production, marine, technology and the knowledge economy."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=149670 project_image_fid=360975]

While population growth has been one of the defining stories of the past decade, the report points to a broader economic transformation taking place.

The city's knowledge economy now contributes $7.9 billion annually and supports around 31,000 jobs, while the health and wellbeing sector contributes $5.2 billion and employs more than 42,000 people. Together, the six priority sectors identified in the report account for almost $24 billion in economic output and more than 145,000 jobs.

One of the strongest examples is the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct at Southport. The 200-hectare precinct now contains more than $5 billion worth of health, education, research and innovation infrastructure and supports over 16,000 jobs.

The report also highlights the growing role of advanced manufacturing, particularly in aerospace, defence and modular construction.

Gold Coast-based Gilmour Space Technologies recently became the first Australian commercial company to attempt an orbital launch, while companies including Modscape and ModnPods are helping establish the Yatala-Stapylton corridor as one of Australia's fastest-growing advanced manufacturing hubs.

The city's entrepreneurial culture is also translating into business growth.

Since 2019/20, the number of businesses operating on the Gold Coast has increased by 22 per cent, while firms employing more than 200 people have grown by 80 per cent. The report suggests the next challenge is converting more local start-ups and medium-sized businesses into nationally significant companies.

Development activity remains another key indicator of confidence.

There are currently more than $23 billion worth of major projects underway across the Gold Coast, supported by a record 75 active cranes, a figure that now exceeds Brisbane and represents a 150 per cent increase since 2016.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112024 project_image_fid=343235]

Importantly, the report notes the next phase of investment will need to extend beyond residential development.

While 93 per cent of crane activity is currently tied to housing, Invest Gold Coast argues future investment will increasingly need to focus on cultural, civic, infrastructure and industry-enabling projects that strengthen the city's long-term economic resilience.

Invest Gold Coast Chair Will Hodgman said the city was now benefiting from years of economic diversification.

"What is happening on the Gold Coast is the result of the city's economic base broadening, fuelled by industries with long-term, high-growth potential," Mr Hodgman said.

"This is no longer a secondary Australian economy, the Gold Coast is becoming a globally connected city with deeper capability across health, knowledge and creative industries, advanced manufacturing, technology and exports."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108274 project_image_fid=365786]

Looking ahead, the Gold Coast's population is projected to exceed one million residents by 2046.

For a city that was once largely defined by tourism and lifestyle, the latest figures suggest the Gold Coast is becoming something more significant, one of Australia's most diverse and economically sophisticated urban economies, and increasingly one that national and international investors can no longer afford to overlook.

Joel Robinson

75 cranes, $23 billion pipeline and a $55 billion economy: Inside the Gold Coast economic boom

Ron Bakir's Homecorp has sold more than 75 per cent of the apartments in its wellness-driven Florence Residences in Surfers Paradise following its first weekend release.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/florence-residences-24-monte-carlo-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">26-storey project on Monte Carlo Avenue</a>, which commenced construction earlier this year, has seen a flurry of buyers secure their slice of the Gold Coast's latest wellbeing-focused offering in one of the nation's most competitive property markets.

Since the pandemic, the Gold Coast's population has grown by more than 11 per cent, a rate approximately four times faster than Sydney's, driven largely by lifestyle changes and interstate migration. While buyer activity has moderated in some markets nationally, demand for newly built dwellings on the Gold Coast continues to gain momentum as purchasers increasingly prioritise lifestyle, amenity, wellbeing, liveability and long-term investment potential.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372743]

Homecorp CEO Ron Bakir says buyers today are looking for more than just a home.

"What we are seeing is a shift in how people define value in property," Bakir says.

"What attracts residents to new developments is a desire for more than just a residence. They are looking for a place that complements their lifestyle, supports their wellbeing and reflects the way they want to live into the future.

"Lifestyle, longevity, proactive health, wellbeing, connection and a sense of community are increasingly shaping purchasing decisions, particularly on the Gold Coast, where these factors continue to be a major drawcard."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372744]

Bakir says Homecorp is responding to this shift through an approach that places greater emphasis on design, amenity and experience working together to create places that feel considered, connected and enduring in value.

Inspired by Eastern European design, Florence Residences will comprise 120 apartments alongside a private residents-only wellness club featuring a resort-style rooftop pool, hot and cold plunge pools, a spa retreat, contemporary gymnasium, and a spacious yoga and Pilates studio.

The development will also feature a residents-only lounge with private dining facilities and a rooftop bar, premium outdoor entertaining areas, a hotel-style lobby lounge, generous bike parking, and pet-friendly amenities including a heated dog wash.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=150414 project_image_fid=372742]

A limited number of apartments remain available, with an exclusive collection of four-bedroom sub-penthouses set to be released in the coming months.

Florence is one of the latest additions to Homecorp's expanding multi-billion-dollar property portfolio, which also includes plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/homecorp-lodges-plans-for-260-million-moroccan-bathhouse-inspired-tower-in-budds-beach">$260 million development in Budds Beach</a> tailored to the growing wellness market.

A development application has been lodged for a 27-storey, 156-residence tower at 8–10 Acacia Avenue and 25–27 Oak Avenue, featuring a residents-only Moroccan spa-inspired sanctuary.

Apartments at Florence Residences are priced from $1,249,000, with construction expected to be completed by late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=150414]

Buyers rush to Homecorp's Florence Residences as Gold Coast wellness trend gains momentum

The NSW Government has expanded its $1 billion Pre-sale Finance Guarantee program, broadening access for affordable housing providers and smaller residential developments as it seeks to accelerate housing delivery across the state.

The Minns Government says the program has already helped bring forward more than 600 homes across Sydney and regional NSW since launching in September 2025, with similar models now adopted in South Australia and Western Australia.

The latest changes, announced by Treasurer Daniel Mookhey and Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, are designed to improve access to finance for projects that have planning approval but are struggling to secure funding.

Among the key changes is an expansion of support for community housing providers. The program will now support up to 100 per cent affordable housing projects valued at up to $30 million when delivered by not-for-profit providers, while support for larger affordable housing developments will increase for projects worth up to $80 million.

The government says the changes will help accelerate the delivery of housing for low-income workers, older people, people living with disability, and those at risk of homelessness, while reducing reliance on direct grants or subsidised loans to bridge funding gaps.

The eligibility criteria for smaller residential developments have also been broadened. The previous $5 million minimum project value threshold has been removed and replaced with a requirement that projects deliver at least four homes.

Support has also increased for projects delivering fewer than 20 homes, with the guarantee now able to cover up to 75 per cent of dwellings in a development, capped at $30 million per project.

The changes are expected to particularly benefit smaller-scale and regional developments, which often face greater challenges meeting pre-sale requirements imposed by lenders.

Treasurer Daniel Mookhey said the scheme demonstrates how government can use its balance sheet to stimulate housing supply without relying solely on taxpayer-funded grants.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee shows how this Government is using its balance sheet to reduce risk and unlock private investment, enabling new homes to move from design to construction faster," Mookhey said.

"This landmark reform allows us to deliver homes for working families at a lower cost to taxpayers, while also maintaining strong financial discipline."

Planning Minister Paul Scully said the program had already proven effective in bringing stalled projects to market.

"The Pre-sale Finance Guarantee has already proven it can unlock stalled projects and accelerate housing delivery by giving lenders the confidence they need to back good developments," Scully said.

"These changes will allow more affordable housing and smaller developments to access support so more homes can be built faster where communities need them most."

Housing Minister Rose Jackson said the expansion would help community housing providers overcome financing barriers that often delay projects.

"We know community housing providers are ready to build more homes, too often they're held back by barriers to finance," Jackson said.

"Expanding the Pre-sale Finance Guarantee helps remove those barriers so more affordable homes can get off the ground sooner."

The announcement was welcomed by the Property Council of Australia, which has long advocated for measures aimed at improving project feasibility and access to finance.

Property Council NSW Executive Director Katie Stevenson described the expansion as a practical intervention that addresses one of the most immediate constraints on housing delivery.

"This is exactly the kind of practical intervention we need right now, focused on getting projects out of the ground, not just approved," Stevenson said.

"It builds on a model the Property Council has worked closely with government to develop following calls for such a scheme ahead of last year's NSW Budget, so it's great to see it being expanded."

Stevenson said the reforms would help unlock projects that are ready to proceed but have been delayed by financing challenges. However, she noted that broader feasibility issues remain a significant barrier to increasing housing supply.

"The biggest challenge in NSW housing today is delivery. Too many projects have planning approval but are simply not financially viable to proceed under current settings," she said.

Speaking at the Property Council's NSW Housing Summit, Housing Minister Rose Jackson acknowledged that feasibility and financing pressures continue to constrain housing delivery, while reaffirming the government's commitment to work with industry on solutions.

Stevenson said the government's recognition of those challenges was encouraging ahead of next week's state budget.

"It's positive to see the government clearly recognising that feasibility pressures are now a binding constraint on supply," she said.

"With the Budget just days away, the focus must be on backing delivery, making sure projects stack up, finance can flow, and more homes can move from approval to construction."

The expanded Pre-sale Finance Guarantee forms part of the NSW Government's broader housing agenda, which also includes planning reforms, the NSW Housing Pattern Book, and a series of rezonings intended to increase housing capacity across the state.

NSW expands Pre-sale Finance Guarantee to unlock more affordable and regional housing

Design-led developer-builder Lowe Living has unveiled its latest residential development, Jardin House, marking its first foray into Melbourne's blue-chip City of Boroondara.

Located a short walk from Camberwell Junction, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House</a> has been designed to appeal to affluent local downsizers and established families seeking a low-maintenance alternative to the large homes that have long defined Camberwell and surrounding suburbs.

The project will comprise a collection of two and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 92 sqm to 280 sqm, alongside a limited number of penthouse residences featuring rooftop terraces spanning more than 100 sqm, with optional private pools.

&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372212]

Lowe Living Co-Founder and Managing Director Tim Lowe said Camberwell represented a natural next step for the developer as it expands into some of Melbourne's most tightly held residential markets.

"Jardin House is an important project for our team as it marks the next evolution of our portfolio into different well-established blue-chip pockets of Melbourne," Lowe said.

"Camberwell, with its incredible walkability, family-led neighbourhood feel and superb access to education and transport, makes it a natural choice for us."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372227]

Designed by Tristan Wong Architects, with interiors by Hecker Guthrie and landscaping by Acre, the development takes inspiration from the Art Deco architecture that remains a defining feature of many of Camberwell's established streets.

A curved facade, arched openings, textured brickwork and sculpted forms reference the suburb's architectural heritage, while extensive landscaping softens the building's presence and creates a strong connection to the surrounding tree-lined streetscape.

The project will be set behind a secure gated entrance, with residents arriving through landscaped gardens designed to create a transition between the public realm and private residences.

Inside, the residences feature natural stone and timber finishes, full-height glazing, Miele appliances and generous open-plan living areas designed for long-term owner occupation.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372225]

While the apartments themselves have been designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers, it is the amenity offering that sets Jardin House apart from many other boutique projects currently launching across Melbourne.

The centrepiece is a 350 sqm private bathhouse curated in partnership with Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse founder Lyndall Mitchell.

The wellness precinct includes mineral pools, hydrotherapy experiences, a Himalayan salt room, sauna, steam room, cold plunge pools and dedicated relaxation spaces, creating what Lowe Living describes as a private wellness retreat exclusively for residents.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=146717 project_image_fid=372222]

The collaboration follows Lowe Living's recent partnership with Aurora at Maison Savoy in Brighton, although Jardin House is the first project to incorporate both indoor and outdoor wellness experiences.

Emma Lowe, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Lowe Living, said wellness was becoming an increasingly important consideration for apartment buyers.

"Collaborating with Lyndall Mitchell from Aurora Spa &amp; Bathhouse for a second time is an intentional nod to creating residences that are more than just homes, but a way to enrich the lives of our residents through wellness and longevity," Lowe said.

The amenity offering is complemented by a Technogym fitness studio, residents' lounge, private dining spaces and concierge services.

The launch comes as developers increasingly target Melbourne's established eastern suburbs, where rising land values, ageing housing stock and growing downsizer demand are creating opportunities for boutique apartment projects.

Lowe said the company expects significant generational wealth transfer across suburbs such as Camberwell in coming years, creating further demand for luxury apartment living.

"Camberwell is a blue-chip suburb where homes regularly transact for multiple millions of dollars," he said.

"The generational change of wealth in these locations expected in the coming years is significant, so we see an opportunity to create exclusive residences that appeal to older families and downsizers in order to meet this demand."

Apartments at Jardin house start from $1,195,000. The project forms part of Lowe Living's near-$1 billion portfolio of new developments across Melbourne.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=146717]

Lowe Living launches Jardin House in Camberwell

As <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/north-sydney-nsw-2060">North Sydney</a> continues its transition from a commercial centre into a more layered residential and lifestyle precinct, a new generation of apartment developments is reshaping expectations around scale, amenity, and long-term liveability.

Improved transport connections through the Victoria Cross Metro, continued investment in dining and public spaces, and a constrained supply of new luxury apartments have sharpened demand for homes that combine proximity to the CBD with the privacy and outlook traditionally associated with harbourside houses.

At 177 Walker Street, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/aland">ALAND</a>’s new apartment development <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/the-walden-north-sydney-177-walker-street-north-sydney-nsw-2060">The Walden</a> enters the market with a distinctly residential approach to high-rise living. The 30-level tower will deliver 161 residences, ranging from one-bedroom apartments through to sub-penthouses and a full-floor penthouse, all oriented to capture uninterrupted views across Sydney Harbour, the Opera House, and out toward the Pacific Ocean.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6395]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/rothelowman">Rothelowman</a>, the project takes advantage of the site’s natural topography and elevated position above the harbour. Rather than relying on density alone, the architecture focuses on outlook, orientation, and spatial flow, with every apartment occupying a corner position to maximise natural light and cross ventilation.

Rothelowman says the site itself shaped much of the architectural response.

“The site has a long history in terms of its inevitable transformation and when we came in, we took inspiration from the idea of reestablishing a sense of the site’s natural terrain and fall. Our scheme aims to integrate with the terrain and the landscape, using the undulating site to slowly reveal glimpses and views of the harbour. The rotation of the tower off grid means every apartment has a view and is naturally cross ventilated. The building's colour palette is quintessentially Sydney, with bronze and sandstone and a luminescent green colour in the glass, making it very earthy and grounded in its location.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6399]

Inside the residences, the emphasis moves toward larger-format living typically associated with standalone homes. Kitchens sit at the centre of the apartments, connecting directly to open-plan dining and living areas before extending outward into expansive winter gardens and balconies. Calacatta marble, bespoke joinery, integrated appliances, and custom metal detailing are used throughout, while three distinct interior palettes, Terrace, Opera, and Harbour, allow buyers to personalise the spaces without compromising the architectural consistency of the project.

The larger residences place particular attention on separation between entertaining and private zones. In many apartments, master suites occupy the outer corners of the floorplates, allowing bedrooms to benefit from floor-to-ceiling glazing and harbour outlooks independent of the living spaces. Dressing rooms and ensuites continue the material palette through fluted detailing, freestanding baths, and layered stone finishes.

Rothelowman says the design intent centred on creating homes that feel enduring rather than transient.

“Our philosophy is all about the way people live in these spaces, and we wanted to create homes that reflect the quality of life in this unique Sydney location. The apartments showcase expansive living spaces that are generous, sophisticated, and bold, with the ability to connect with views throughout each apartment.”

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=353235]

A separate four-storey amenity building known as The Pavilion expands the residential offering beyond the apartments themselves. Positioned alongside the tower, the building consolidates wellness, recreation, and social spaces into a dedicated resident retreat. Facilities include a 20-metre rooftop pool and sundeck, sauna, spa, ice bath, wellness studio, gymnasium, concierge service, wine cellar, residents’ lounge, private dining spaces, and dedicated co-working areas with meeting rooms and boardroom facilities.

The amenity mix reflects the buyer profile emerging in North Sydney, where owner-occupiers and downsizers are increasingly prioritising convenience, apartment scale, and long-term usability over purely investment-driven decisions.

The Walden also represents a significant milestone for ALAND, marking the company’s first major move into Sydney’s inner-city luxury apartment market after more than two decades delivering large-scale residential communities across Greater Sydney. Founder Andrew Hrsto says the Walker Street site stood apart because of both its positioning and its rarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134323 project_image_fid=6390]

“As a company, we had been searching for a site in one of Sydney’s blue-chip locations, spanning the Eastern Suburbs, the Sydney CBD and the North Shore, and when we had the opportunity to purchase this site, we immediately recognised that it could be something iconic.”

At launch, The Walden recorded more than $103 million in sales, with buyers drawn to the project’s harbour positioning, apartment scale, and proximity to the Metro, which now connects North Sydney to Barangaroo in three minutes and Martin Place in five.

ALAND has commenced construction, and is expecting a completion date in 2028.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134323]

The Walden pairs house-scale living with North Sydney connectivity

Title Tattle

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Bank of America Merrill Lynch equity capital markets boss Guy Foster sold his Northbridge, lower North Shore home ahead of its scheduled late 2014 auction.
Built in 2008 with 395 square metre space, it was sold through <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-northbridge-nsw-2063/241382/?searchID=46507265" target="_blank">McGrath agent David Howe</a> for close to $5.25 million. 
The five bedroom Tycannah Road home was built on a 589 square metre block that cost $2.3 million in 2004.
CoreLogic RP Data puts <a href="/news">the suburb's median</a> at around $2.3 million.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Northbridge sale by Bank of America Merrill Lynch equity boss

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Loggerheads, the trophy Hunter Valley vineyard estate last sold in 2008, has been listed with $10 million price expectations.
The Pokolbin property has wonderful provenance being the former home of the late Len Evans and before that the Tyrrell family.
It was last sold to Robin and Judy Crawford by Len Evan's widow, Trish Evans.
There's still a village-like setting at the estate which has its rambling residential homestead with three adjoining pavilions. 
The seven bedroom, six bathroom homestead is Australian Country in design, with European influences, extensively refurbished by the architect Michael Suttor.
It is now surrounded by Paul Bangay garden, with orchard and vegetable garden.
Against the backdrop of the Brokenback and Barrington ranges, there are several outbuildings along with an imposing stone column feature, collected from the demolition of the Bank of NSW on George Street, which remain from the Evans' time.
The level, but elevated property was bought by the Evans clan from the Tyrrell family in 1971 and comes with a 35-year-old vineyard, now with about four hectares under vine.
Set in Australia’s most visited wine region, it has been listed by Alan Jurd from Jurd's Real Estate who secured its 2008 sale.
The <a href="https://jurds.com.au/listings/rural_sale-310141-pokolbin/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Loggerheads</a> estate is 200 acres. 
The 87 hectare property has two road frontages, at 97 Palmers Lane and 2341 and 2347 Broke Road, Pokolbin.
The Broke Road frontage has passive rental income from a fully licensed cellar door wine sales outlet, separate residence, dairy/barn and wine storage shed.
Alan Jurd told Property Observer he expects around $6 million for the homestead holding and $4 million for the commercial lot.
"Loggerheads represents the finest example of a country lifestyle with city convenience being just two hours North of Sydney," said Shelly Jurd, the agency's rural lifestyle sales director.
There is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ohWepmCXow&amp;feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">video with the marketing</a>.
The noted bon vivant Len Evans, who died in 2006, was the long-time president of the Australian Wine Foundation, having written about wines since 1962.
He began his beverage career after he migrated to Sydney in 1958 and took a casual job as a pub glass-washer at the Ship Inn at Circular Quay.
Title Tattle recalls Evans planted Shiraz and Gammay in the vineyard.
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Loggerheads, the Hunter Valley trophy lifestyle vineyard estate listed

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Namatjira, former champion surfer Wayne Lynch's Victoria coastal family haven, has been sold for $3.5 million.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-anglesea-115707943" target="_blank">The Great Ocean Road property</a> sits about halfway between Anglesea and Airey's Inlet at Urquhart Bluff, on the Surf Coast locality.
Married to Lindy with two children, Jarrah and Merinda, <a href="https://www.hayden.com.au/view.cfm?OID=6486901&amp;tp=432_view" target="_blank">Namatjira</a>, has been in the family for 35 years. The property was registered in the name of Allan Lynch.
Lynch, who is a surfing ambassador for surfwear brand Patagonia, was reportedly considering a move to the NSW north coast of NSW.
The three-level house with expansive coastal views sits on 4.45 hectares of protected natural bush on the Great Ocean Road.
There is a three bedroom house plus separate three-bedroom bungalow.
It has been bought by Clapmore Pty Ltd, a company associated with Andrew Grech, the managing director at Slater &amp; Gordon and his wife, Daniela.
Slater's lodged the paperwork for the transfer in the days before Christmas 2014.
Marius Tekin, of Hayden Real Estate, listed it for $3,995,000 in January last year.
It was initially listed at $5.5 million in 2010.
CoreLogic RP Data puts the Anglesea median house price at $640,000, just below <a href="/news">its 2011 peaks</a>.
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Surfer Wayne Lynch's coastal Anglesea family estate Namatjira sold

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Ngara, the Kew birthplace of former prime minister Gough Whitlam, should not be saved from the bulldozer, Heritage Victoria has suggested, because Gough Whitlam didn't have a long association with Victoria.
Wreckers began the preliminary demolition of the house last October on the day that Mr Whitlam, Australia's 21st prime minister, died aged 98.
An interim protection order subsequently placed on the Rowland Street house by the Heritage Council expires next month.
The public can make submissions over the fate of Mr Whitlam's birthplace to the Heritage Council until February 16.
Fairfax media reported although the house was one of Mr Whitlam's "few physical links" to Victoria, it was not of state significance because he "had no association with the place during his term as prime minister and did not spend any of his politically formative years at the place".
Boroondara Council wants the house given heritage protection as other homes in Melbourne have been given heritage protection because a prime minister was born in, or lived at, the property including nearby 10 Howard Street in Kew, the former home of Robert Menzies; and 167 Cotham Road in Kew, the former home of Billy Hughes.
The Whitlam house was built in 1915, the block having been bought two months after the wedding of his parents, Fred and Mattie.
At the time of Mr Whitlam's death, Premier Daniel Andrews claimed the former prime minister would not have wanted any money spent on a house he lived in only briefly as a baby.
"I would imagine Gough Whitlam, being the humble man he was, would much prefer the taxpayers' money to be invested in health and education," Andrews said.
Mr Whitlam was born in the house.
In 2013 it was bought for $3.3 million by overseas buyer Youquing Liang, who has sought the demolition.
Ngara, the 1916 birthplace of the late Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam at 46 Rowland Street, was, despite some alterations to the façade, still clearly recognisable as a typical Federation brick villa.
According to his birth announcement, the birth took place at Ngara, Rowland Street, East Kew (<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/1590998" target="_blank">Argus, 22 Jul 1916: page 13</a>).
The Whitlams sold the family home on Rowland Street in 1917, moved for work to Sydney and Canberra.
Victoria has a number of places individually listed on municipal heritage overlays, as well as the Victorian Heritage Register, because they served as the residence of a prime minister during his time in office.
As Melbourne served as the national capital until 1927, prior to this, all Australian prime ministers had a residence in Melbourne during their time in Parliament. 
<ul>
<li>Boroondara HO315 – 10 Howard Street, Kew. A handsome and intact two-storey house built in 1912. Robert Menzies owned and occupied it 1928-60, encompassing his time as prime minister.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Boroondara HO285 – 167 Cotham Road, Kew. A single-storey double-fronted Federation-style villa of brick construction, which features a distinctive centrally-placed square porch with Art Nouveau parapeted walls. Intact apart from a rear extension. Built in 1911, it was owned and occupied by Billy Hughes 1915-24, during his time as prime minister.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Southern Grampians HO375 – “Nareen”, Colraine-Nareen Road, Nareen. A Victorian timber homestead owned by the Fraser family 1946-2000 and closely associated with Malcom Fraser during his time as prime minister in the 1970s. The gardens were developed by Malcolm and his wife Tamie.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>VHR H1126 – “Ballara”, 57-73 Glaneuse Road, Point Lonsdale. An early bungalow built in 1907-08 as a holiday home for then-prime minister Alfred Deakin.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>VHR H1998 – “Bruce Manor”, 34 Pinehill Drive, Frankston. An architect-designed, Mediterranean Revival villa built for Stanley Bruce in 1926, during his time as prime minister. He left Australia in 1932. The house is intact and its design was influential at the time.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Moreland HO298 – 2 Fallon Street, Brunswick. A typical block-fronted timber house of c1906, with a high level of intact detail. It was rented by John Curtain from 1913-15 during his days as an anti-conscriptionist, prior to his WWII-time term as prime minister. The house is of architectural significance and historic interest only for its ‘brief association’ with John Curtin.</li>
</ul>
{mijopolls 71}
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Gough Whitlam's Kew birthplace conservation debate continues

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The Christmas break didn't stop a Sydney trophy home listing from securing its next owner. And like the top sale of last year, it too is located off the harbour.
Details remained unconfirmed but the Eastbourne Road, Darling Point property joined the top 2014 sales list in eighth place.
The expectations of its listing agent Alison Coopes, who had the offering with Sothebys International, were a bullish $25 million plus. Any sale above $20.5 million put into eighth place.
"Evocative of Hollywood glamour by night and bathed in our great bright northern sun by day, the white sculpted spaces are perfectly appointed," the <a href="https://www.alisoncoopes.com" target="_blank">Agency by Coopes</a> marketing suggested. 
It offer six bedrooms and eight bathrooms within its 936 square metre space. It traded at $4,825,000 in 2003 pre-renovation when bought by AsheMorgan head Michael Rothner and Lisa Rothner.
The concept plans were prepared by architect Bruce Stafford.
<a href="/news/point-piper-clears-its-prestige-property-listing-cobwebs-in-2014-he-said-she-said">The past year’s list of the top 20 Sydney house sales</a>, updated by Property Observer, show price consolidation and a clearing of the cobwebs, particularly at Point Piper where the six highest priced properties on the list had languished on the market for years.
The Darling Point sale was however a snappy sale, listed by private treaty only in mid-November.
Again, Sydney's eastern suburbs proved dominant with 16 of the top 20 sales in 2014, and Mosman made a resurgence with four properties, a significant increase on its 2013 single appearance.  
Tenders close pre-Christmas on the Darling Point home of the Rothner family, so it was heralded as likely to make it onto the revised list. 
Property Observer commentators, Jonathan Chancellor and Margie Blok, offered their analysis of the annual list highlighting three trends.
<ul>
<li>
A non-waterfront property topped the list for the second time in the past three years. Villa Del Mare, a lavish residence set on the elevated high side of Wolseley Road, looks unchallengable in holding <a href="/news/julia-ross-sells-villa-del-mare-the-point-piper-palazzo-trophy-home">this year’s poll position at $39 million</a>. The lavish home was sold by recruitment queen Julia Ross who bought the residence for $21.5 million in 2005 – at the time, it was a record price for a non-waterfront property, and also the second highest price paid for a house in Australia. The last time a non-waterfront property topped the Sydney list was 2012 when a hillside Rose Bay estate sold for $21.5 million through Alison Coopes.  
</li>
<li>For the second year running, a buyer from China purchased the top-priced Sydney property. In October, Villa Del Mare was snapped up for $39 million by Golden Fast Foods Pty Ltd through Ken Jacobs of Christies and Bill Malouf of LJ Hooker Double Bay. Last year Property Observer <a href="/news/guangzhou-evergrandes-chinese-billionaire-owner-xu-jiayin-tipped-as-villa-del-mare-point-piper-buyer">shed light on the China connection</a> of Golden Fast Foods Pty Ltd by following a paper trail seemingly leading to the Chinese billionaire, Xu Jiayin, chairman of Evergrande, an integrated corporation specialised in residential building, cultural tourism, FMCG, agriculture, dairy, livestock farming and sport industry with 460 billion yuan worth of total assets and 80,000 employees.  In 2013 the top priced property was Altona, the Point Piper waterfront bought for $52 million through Alison Coopes. Just three of the top 20 priced properties in 2014 were purchased by buyers from China, although sometimes it's a little tricky to ascertain the purchaser origins. </li>
<li>
Piper Piper retained its poll position of Sydney’s most expensive real estate with the prestigious harbourside suburb claiming the six top-priced properties for 2014. However, each of these properties had been for sale for years. For sale for the longest period was the <a href="/expert-insights/buying/simon-family-point-piper-sale-swings-pendulum-back-to-the-harbourfront">Simon family’s Wolseley Road waterfront residence</a> which traded eight years after its initial listing. 
</li>
</ul>
Below are the 20 sales of the year (all prices in millions):
<ol>
<li>$39 - Point Piper, 63 Wolseley Road         </li>
<li>$37 - Point Piper, 112 Wolseley Road       </li>
<li>$31* - Point Piper, 106 Wolseley Road      </li>
<li>$30.5* - Point Piper, Wentworth Street      </li>
<li>$30 -  Point Piper, 130 Wolseley Road       </li>
<li>$30* - Point Piper, 60 Wunulla Road     </li>
<li>$26* - Rose Bay, 12 Dumaresq Road   </li>
<li>$25* - Darling Point, 21 Eastbourne Road </li>
<li>$20.5 - Bellevue Hill, 12 Ginahgulla Road   </li>
<li>$19 - Bellevue Hill, 17 Carrington Avenue</li>
<li>19* - Vaucluse, 29 Coolong Road</li>
<li>18 - Vaucluse, 8 Wharf Road    </li>
<li>$16.3 - Mosman, 9 Curraghbeena Road        </li>
<li>$16 - Bellevue Hill, 8A Ginahgulla Road   </li>
<li>$16* - Vaucluse, 2 Loch Maree Place</li>
<li>$16* - Mosman, 8 Burran Avenue</li>
<li>$15.6 - Mosman, 21 Carrington Avenue    </li>
<li>$15.45 - Vaucluse, 2a Vaucluse Road      </li>
<li>$14 - Vaucluse, 9 Hillside Avenue</li>
<li>$13 - Vaucluse, 1 Loch Maree Place</li>
</ol>
*    Sale reported, but not settled
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Cracking $25 million Darling Point trophy home sale over Christmas break

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The Apple co-founder, gadget guy Steve Wozniak will soon become an Australian resident, with plans to initially buy a bolt hole in Sydney.
He is house hunting at the moment, having officially become an Australian citizen while keeping dual citizenship. No details yet on just where he intends to buy, but the ferry ride to Manly may possibly help hone his preference. He was staying at the newly opened InterContinental at Double Bay.
While he’ll continue to be based in California while travelling around the world on speaking engagements, he seemingly intends to settle permanently in Tasmania.
“The Premier of Tasmania (Will Hodgman) actually called us at our home and offered to show us around if we were ever there," he told The Australian Financial Review.
"Hopefully in the next few days we can get there, as I really like the idea of cooler weather.”
He had previously had his destination as <a href="https://www.4bc.com.au/radio/steve-wozniak-at-chermside-20120921-26ak4" target="_blank">probably Melbourne</a>.
Wozniak, who formed Apple with Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne in Palo Alto California in 1976, has become an adjunct professor at the University of Technology in Sydney.
He told the AFR his decision came after he received an email from old friend, Sydney-based barrister Nicholas Baltinos.
Wozniak was the coaxed by UTS professor Mary-Anne Williams through her connections to Stanford University. 
Wozniak and wife, Janet, have harboured intentions of living in Australia since 2012 when he first applied to be an Australian citizen.
His son is married to an Australian and lives in Sydney.
Woznaik appears to like the modern style judging by the <a href="https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/300-Santa-Rosa-Dr-Los-Gatos-CA-95032/19748736_zpid/" target="_blank">six bedroom, seven bathroom, Los Gatos, California home he built in 1986</a> and sold in 2004 (pictured below).
<img src="/images/2014/12/19/woz%20dec%2019%20one.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/12/19/woz%20dec%2019%20two.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/12/19/woz%20dec%2019%20three.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/12/19/woz%20dec%2019%20four.jpg" alt="">
<img src="/images/2014/12/19/woz%20dec%2019%20five.jpg" alt="">
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Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak house hunting in Sydney, but bound for the Apple Isle

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The former Tinkler Group Hunter Sports Group chief executive Troy Palmer has sold his Merewether home for $3.25 million.
The four-bedroom, four-bathroom Berner Street home set a Merewether sale record in 2008 when Nathan Tinkler bought it from NRL legend Andrew Johns for $4.3 million.
It sold four years later to the Palmer family for $2.8 million.
The latest sale was off market with no marketing of the home on the prime foreshore location.
Photo courtesy of Adam Daley/ <a class="mw-mmv-license" href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">CC BY-SA 3.0</a>.
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Former Tinkler executive sells Merewether house

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There is a new Glenhaven record set by the restaurateurs Frank and Rima Criniti at $9 million.
Petalinda, the 1.9 hectare Sydney Hills district estate, previously sold for a record in 2011 when $5.3 million was secured by Jennifer Grant, wife of construction boss Steve Grant, director of Capital Corporation. 
It has had a $2 million up-grades since its purchase.
Some $8.5 million was being sought before its sale to a buyer from nearby West Pennant Hills.
The sale beats the previous Hills record when $6.38 million was paid for 4 Hemers Road, Dural in mid-2013.
The prior suburb record was set only two doors away at $5.6 million when construction industry boss Mark Taylor and his wife, Eleni, sold in August to Angela Symons, wife of house and land package developer Todd Symons, of Eden Brae Homes.
The Taylor's 1.2 hectare estate was bought in 2011 for $3,665,000 from construction and property developer Graeme Webb and his wife Pamela.
It had been built in 1999 to a pavilion design by Heather Buttrose.
{qtube vid:=Pd4tvLxbRNs}
 
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Glenhaven's Petalinda sets $9 million hills district record

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Sydney celebrity couple Anthony and Terry Minichiello have bought a home in Vaucluse.
Selling agent Mark Meyer of LJ Levi listed the two-storey house two weeks ago with 2015 auction plans.
There were $3 million plus hopes for the late1970s/early 1980s, two storey, brick home. It was held by one family for 35 years, according to the marketing.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/photogallery_new.ds?id=118621211&amp;theme=rea.sold" rel="photos" data-id="118621211"><img src="https://i1.au.reastatic.net/456x342/66b96bfe1fafea8788eb41aaa7f6c8d769025faecd9e1a6f6c3ccde06674da25/main.jpg" alt="163 Hopetoun Avenue, Vaucluse" title="163 Hopetoun Avenue, Vaucluse" data-index="0"></a>
Vaucluse's median house price is $3.37 million, <a href="/news">according to CoreLogic RP Data</a>, down on its $3.78 million peak in 2010.
Since the birth of one year old daughter, Azura, the couple had been house hunting through buyer’s agents, <a href="https://instagram.com/p/wf-XY6BlVw/" target="_blank">Hastings Property</a>, Title Tattle gathers. They only wanted to buy in Vaucluse. 
The retired Sydney Roosters captain Anthony Minichiello and shoe designer wife Terry Biviano sold their Bondi Beach penthouse for just shy of $2 million in July on delayed settlement terms.
The two-storey apartment with ocean views was bought in 2005 for $1.35 million, a year before the couple met.
Sunday Telegraph columnist Ros Reines recently suggested, given their strong fashion and sporting ties, "it would be easy to consider Biviano and Minichiello as Sydney’s answer to Posh and Becks".
“No, not at all,” <a href="https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/sydney-confidential/mini-and-me-are-not-a-little-version-of-posh-and-becks-terry-biviano/story-fni0cvc9-1227155087314" target="_blank">Terry advised Ros</a>, who's best known these days as a fiction novelist.
Reines's fellow Telegraph property columnist Kirtsen Craze doesn't sound convinced by Terry writing the Vaucluse couple’s "plain Jane family home is a far cry from their designer lifestyle".
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No Posh and Becks: It's Anthony Minichiello and Terry Biviano who buy in Vaucluse

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The Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and his wife, Lady Cosgrove, have sold their Neutral Bay home.
It had been listed for private treaty sale after the $2.1 million vendor bid at auction in mid-November. No price has been revealed, but Property Observer gleans it sold for $2.1 million.
The Cosgrove listing following the couple's recent move to their official, vice-regal residences, nearby Admiralty House in Kirribilli and Government House in Canberra.
McGrath Estate Agents had expected $2.1 million plus for the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-neutral-bay-nsw-2089/240264" target="_blank">three-storey Spruson Street semi</a>.
They paid $1.95 million in 2007, two years after Sir Peter ended his term as the Defence Force chief.
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