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.

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[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.

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[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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Claire Larritt-Evans, the Melbourne interior decorator, has sold her Caulfield South home for $780,000.
The art deco-era family home had three bedrooms.
There were open fireplaces in the living and dining rooms.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-caulfield+south-117668243" target="_blank">Gary Peer agents Leor Samuel and Aviv Samuel</a> had initial low $700,000 price expectations.
The pretty 886A Glenhuntly Road traded at $595,000 in 2011.
The dining room is the hub of the graceful 1920s home that has had a contemporary makeover by Claire Larritt-Evans and her husband Scott Larritt, a creative director at a design and branding agency.
RP Data puts <a href="/news">the suburb's median</a> at around $1,077,000.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Interior designer Claire Larritt-Evans sells Caulfield South art deco home

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Acclaimed dancer and choreographer Meryl Tankard has sold her two-storey Bondi penthouse ahead of its scheduled 17 September auction.
Title Tattle gathers the former artistic director of the Australian Dance Theatre secured <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/apartment-bondi-nsw-2026/235684/?searchID=42538178" target="_blank">around $2.1 million through McGrath agent Chris Volpatti</a>.
It had been relisted with $1.8 million plus hopes, having failed to secure the desired $2 million plus being sought in early 2014.
The penthouse comes with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, three car spaces, views of the ocean and the harbour, and a self-contained roof-top terrace.
Tankard bought the Penkivil Street pad in 2007 for $1,732,000.
The apartment is one of those rarities in Sydney with harbour and ocean views.
It comes with 460 square metres of space.
It is in a recently upgraded security building of 12 with inground pool. 
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Dancer and choreographer Meryl Tankard sells Bondi penthouse

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Sydney's skinniest harbourfront home has been sold for $6.34 to businesswoman Fiona Brown, the Dicker Data co-founder.
It's a four level home on a postage stamp-sized block just six metres wide at Darling Point.
Once a Sydney Harbour right-of-way slipway for nearby flat owners, the Darling Point house (pictured above) dates to the early 1980s when built by the veteran property developer Bill Shipton.
Set on a small sandy beach between historic Carthona and Neidpath, the Carthona Avenue was listed by the Melbourne-based landscaper Jack Merlo.
The waterfront property which came with $7.5 million plus hopes mid-last year was relisted earlier this year through Pillinger Real Estate, inconjuction with Sothebys International.
It is just 207 square metres. It is best known as the former home of Lady Susan Renouf, who sold it in 1997 for $2.9 million to Melbourne socialite Dianne Allen through the Double Bay agents Marcia Resch and Jane Ashton.
Merlo paid $6.15 million in 2009.
Before the Melbourne trio took hold of the the four-level property with a pool, there were some colouful Sydney characters as past owners. 
In the late 1980s it lay dormant when owned by absentee investor, and nearby The Swifts' resident, Carl Spies - other than its use by skylarking rich squatters for weekend raves.
The waterfront was then lavishly restored by stylist Barry Byrne under the patronage of landlady Dorothy Spry, who paid $2.4 million in 1989. 
What is probably Sydney Harbour's second narrowest home remains listed for sale.
The house on the slither of land from the subdivided Paradis sur Mer estate is back for sale. 
The 260-square-metre parcel of land - the second smallest vacant block among Sydney Harbour's 2,400 waterfront sites - is about eight metres wide and about 34 metres deep.
It was last sold by the speculative property developers Gerald and Monica Symonds for $1.44 million in 1994 and bought by the neighbours who owned the hi-tech Bang &amp; Olufsen house, anxious that no further building take place on the site.
They built the narrow house that is <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-nsw-point+piper-116163487" target="_blank">currently up for sale through Sotheby's International agent James McCowan</a> (pictured below). It's listed with $15 million hopes. It was initially listed in 2010 with $13 million plus hopes by the Taechaubol family.
<img src="/images/2014/06/06/point-piper-june-6-two.jpg" alt="">
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Sydney's narrowest harbourfront fetches $6.34 million

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Payneswicke, the Leonda restauranteurs' Elsternwick home, has been sold for around $3 million.
Paula Hoffman and her husband Eugene put their Elsternwick property on the market in April.
Owners of function centres Leonda By The Yarra and Fenix, <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/13-gladstone-parade-elsternwick/Property-Details-buy-residential-6943775" target="_blank">the couple bought 13 Gladstone Parade</a> in the mid-1980s and, with the aid of interiors expert, Suzie Forge, restored and extended it.
Set on 1,000 square metres,  the grand late Victorian residence was offered through Matt Davis and Gerald Delany of Kay and Burton.
They were initially quoting $3.25 million plus. The property traded at $353,000 in the mid-1980s.
It was Leon Jolson, who was born Laibusz Dzialowski and known affectionately as Laib (Yiddish for 'lion'), who created the Leonda by the Yarra venue.
It bears his name Leon in conjunction with the first two letters of his partner, the late David Walker.
Previously Leon had worked at estate agencies including Blackburn and Lockwood until he established his own under the name of L. Jolson and Co in Malvern Road, Prahran. 
He ran it for 25 years until he sold it to R.E. Passmore and Son.
Leon also refurbished Earl's Court, which he later converted the venue into a popular ballroom at St Kilda.
Since it’s founding days, Leonda has been in the hands of few fortunate Melbourne based entities, including Qintex (Christopher and Pixie Skase), Vi and Bernard Greenhalf, Horst and Anne Niece and Spotless Services who sold in 2006.
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Payneswicke, the heritage Elsternwick trophy home sold 

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Winemakers Jonathan and Andrea Hamer secured $3.38 million when their grand 1930s Malvern home went to weekend auction.
Jonathan Hamer, a former Mallesons partner, and nephew of former Victorian Premier Sir Rupert Hamer and Andrea, a doctor, bought 16 Somers Avenue since paying $625,000 in 1991.
They own the Yarra Valley vineyard, Tarrahill.
<a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/16-somers-avenue-malvern/Property-Details-buy-residential-7489385" target="_blank">The four bedroom residence</a> was auctioned by Justin Long with James Buyer Advocates reporting the first offer was at $3 million from the three bidders.
It was passed in at $3,260,000, then bought after auction.
The 1930s residence with distinctive Dutch Gable roofline sits on 1100 square metres. 
Peter Bennison, of Marshall White, had been giving pre-action $3.25 million price guidance.
Andrea father is the retired winemaker Ian Hanson, who made wine for many years under the Hanson-Tarrahill label. 
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No hammer, but Hamer's Dutch-gabled Malvern home sells post-auction

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Pettifleur Berenger, the Melbourne property developer who has signed on for the second season of Foxtel's series The Real Housewives of Melbourne, has her Malvern East project for sale.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-unitblock-vic-malvern+east-117570007" target="_blank">Ardrie</a>, the seven two bedroom, two bathroom apartments at 78 Paxton Street, are for sale in one line for around $6 million.
Manuela Pless-Bennett and Greg Herman of Sotheby's International Realty are suggesting an estimated 4% plus rental return for any investor or self-managed superannuation fund buyer.
Offers close September 18.
The 913 square metre holding was bought in 2008 for $1.2 million BY FJP Pty Ltd, which is directed by her partner <a href="https://profileengine.com/people/203671069/frank.palazzo" target="_blank">Frank Palazzo</a>. The profileengine.com website, that Title Tattle has only just come across, gives Frank's current social influence status as "No measurable influence" but that will surely change given Pettifleur's new found television role.
FJP's business trading name is <a href="">Fleur D'Palazzo.</a>
The couple live in the Westin, in an apartment in the heart of the city which Frank bought in late 2011 from <a href="/news/vic/bookie-mark-reads-westin-melbourne-apartment-races-to-quick-sale">Mark and Shari Read for $6,365,000</a>. Palazzo retained his prior apartment the Exhibition Street, Regency Tower penthouse.
Title Tattle gleans the next FJP project is set for Footscray.
The Housewives reality television series <a href="https://www.arenatv.com.au/shows/real-housewives-of-melbourne/season-two-starts-filming/season-2-pictures-new-housewives-pettifleur-and-gamble-#gallery-item-485d3e5e-657e-4dd5-a299-a0e2802d530f" target="_blank">will air next year</a>.
Hanging on from the first series is Janet Roach, the Real Housewives of Melbourne champagne sipping millioniare property developer, <a href="/expert-insights/investing/melbournes-real-housewives-amid-mildura-grey-nomad-caravan-push">who has been developing a massive over-55s lifestyle village in Mildura</a>.
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Real Housewives' property developer Pettifleur Berenger lists Melbourne residential project

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The Melbourne Cup winning horse owner, Lloyd Williams has relisted Macedon Lodge, his champion horse facility at Mt Macedon.
The initial February marketing of the lavish Mt Macedon horse training facility was aimed at overseas buyers, including Qatari and Dubai sheiks.
Williams owns a 1,200 acres outside of Mornington with plans to transition the shift over the next 12 months. 
Williams has five properties on the peninsula with his son Nick saying the new racing complex will be headquartered at a 120 hectare property in Boneo Road, <a href="/news">Cape Schanck</a>.
Williams bought Macedon Lodge from Kurt Stern in 2007 for $5.1 million then spending at least that amount again on refurbishments. It had previously sold at $8.5 million in 2004. Stern leased it as the private training complex for John Symons, who moved to Seymour. 
Macedon Lodge has training tracks, a horse pool, water walker along with some 75 stables. 
The bloodstock company <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-mixed+farming-vic-mount+macedon-7675659" target="_blank">William Inglis and Sons has the listing of the property</a> but no price guidance is being given. Earlier this year it was $20 million hopes.
The property is owned by Hudson Conway Racing, the private thoroughbred racing and breeding operation of Lloyd Williams, one of Australia’s largest and most successful owners for over four decades.
Over the years Williams has raced horses including Mahogany, What a Nuisance, Just a Dash, Reset, Efficient, Zipping, Gallic, Perlin, County and Plush.
He has many Melbourne Cup hopes this year, including last year's Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner, who finished sixth in the Melbourne Cup last year.
A total of 148 horses have been nominated for 2014 Emirates Melbourne Cup including the Lloyd Williams-owned, Robert Hickmott-trained 2012 champion Green Moon. The eight-year-old is one of 12 nominations for Williams, the four-time Cup-winning owner.
Her Majesty The Queen’s prized 2013 Ascot Gold Cup winner Estimate headlines international contenders for this year’s $6.2 million Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) following the release of nominations today by Racing Victoria (RV) and the Victoria Racing Club (VRC).
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Giddy up! Lloyd Williams relists Macedon Lodge

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The Bali-based hotelier entrepreneurs Tony Smith and wife Simone have listed their prime 1 Surf Street, Mermaid Beach, holding.
The marketing through Ray White Mermaid Beach agent Scott Wagner includes video poetry.
It is one of only seven beachfront house blocks between Nobbys Beach and Mermaid Beach.
With an absolute beach frontage of over 30 metres, i<a href="https://www.raywhite.com/qld/mermaid-beach/1179826/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">t is a 1,222 square metre block, with three titles including corner position</a>.
It was bought in 2012 when the Breakfree founder tourism entrepreneur made a $7.3 million comeback on the Gold Coast beachfront strip.
Smith told the Gold Coast Bulletin the property would be the family's holiday house when they visited Australia.
Smith made national headlines during the property boom for wanting to build the "the world's biggest bloody house" along Hedges Avenue, having consolidated five properties.
But the plans were thwarted when MFS, aka as Octaviar, got caught in the GFC, with Smith among those hurt by the early 2008 collapse.
Agent John Natoli at McGrath <a href="/news/qld/breakfree-founder-tony-smith-makes-7-million-plus-mermaid-beach-comeback-title-tattle">negotiated the 2012 sale</a>.
For a while recently it appeared that developer Bill McHarg planned to buy the 1 Surf Street, Mermaid Beach property for $8.5 million to build a luxury sixt storey block of apartments.
Height restrictions restrict developments to three storeys, unless an exemption from council is granted.
 
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Entrepreneur Tony Smith lists Mermaid Beach trophy home with $9 million hopes

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Geoff Harris, the upgrading co-founder of Flight Centre, has sold his redundant Albert Park abode for $5,808,000. 
It followed <a href="/news/flight-centres-geoff-harris-the-12-million-hollyford-albert-park-record-setter">his $12 million purchase of Hollyford</a>, the much admired 1873 residence, that nows hold the mantle of the suburb's top sale.
David Wood's Hockingstuart is being credited as the selling agency for both sales.
His five bedroom, tri-level Kerferd Road (pictured above) house was sold to Bruce Crome, after being listed for around $5.95 million. <a href="https://www.james.net.au/rating/150-Kerferd-Road-ALBERT_PARK" target="_blank">It was described </a>as a classic at the front, and a modern entertainer to the rear.
Harris had paid $4.9 million in 2011 when he bought from the Fineman family. 
Hollyford (pictured below) was built about 17 years after St Vincent Place was laid out, modelled on the English idea of houses clustered around its central landscaped gardens.
The heritage listed St Vincent Place home comes with <a href="https://nma.net.au/project/st-vincents-place/" target="_blank">rear Nicolas Murray-designed extension</a> on its 480 square metre block.
<img src="/images/2014/05/13/albert%20park%20may%2013%20two.jpg" alt="" style="line-height: 1.3em;">
Hollyford, which has its 1873 construction date on its gorgeous vined facade, was the home of the mariner, Thomas Mowbray Hutchinson, according to the land title documents that Property Observer has researched. 
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Upgrading Flight Centre's Geoff Harris sells for $5,808,000 in Albert Park

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Kristine Lempriere, the Melbourne designer owner of Townmouse Children's Wear, has listed the Malvern home she shares with her husband Will, three boys Max, Tom and Henri, and baby girl, Adelaide.
It is a brick 1880s Victorian period residence with tessellated verandah, the arched entrance hall, glorious sitting room with bay window, refined study and gracious formal dining.
The main bedroom, with designer en suite and built in robes is complemented by a separate wing accommodating three children. It has been their home since they paid $992,000 in 2002.
The 556 square metre holding at 52 McKinley Avenue has been<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-malvern-117779711" target="_blank"> listed through Fiona Ansell-Jones and Andrew Hayne at Marshall White for 20 September auction</a>.
Around $2.25 million is tipped.
After Kristine studied fashion at RMIT, Townmouse was launched in 2002.
Last March the couple bought their new house, with Kristine blogging she was relieved that they won't have to house hunt for at least another 20 years. 
{qtube vid:=cNucvv6EQnU}
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