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.”

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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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The former Bank of Melbourne chief executive, David Airey has listed his South Yarra home.
Airey, who now works as a consultant, and his wife Sally have Jeremy Fox of RT Edgar scheduled to auction the property on 9 August with $3 million plus hopes.
The property at <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/47-kensington-road-south-yarra/Property-Details-buy-residential-7240265" target="_blank">47 Kensington Road</a> near Como Park was bought for $1.83 million in 2011.
They extensively renovated the 710 square metre holding but now are downsizing.
The four bedroom home has a self-contained apartment.
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jchancellor-FAypfDUnLy

Former Bank of Melbourne chief lists in South Yarra

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An amazing collection of modernist furniture by Melbourne designer O. Noel Coulson goes to auction tomorrow.
The auctioneer describes it as Hollywood neo-classicism - inspired by ancient Greek design but with a space-age Jetsons feel.
The furniture was commissioned in 1958 for the Toorak home of the late fashion doyenne Mary Lipshut.
The furniture was custom-made by S. Andrewartha of Richmond.
The Geelong-born <a href="https://www.builtheritage.com.au/dua_coulson" target="_blank">Oswald Noel Coulson</a> was born in 1905 working as an architect, interior designer and landscape designer.
He undertook the gardens for the 1956 Olympic Games village of Heidelberg.
He's been dubbed the Australian version of the designer T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings who did the furniture for Conrad Hilton in the '40s, '50s and '60s, said the auctioneer Andrew Shapiro.
Shapiro says furniture pieces by Coulson rarely appear at auction. In 2009 he sold table lamps for more than $3,000 and a limed oak pedestal table for $5000.
This time there's an eccentric telephone table and chair, made of limed oak with brass sabot feet with an estimate of $1,000 to $1,500.
The most expensive offering is a streamlined low cabinet for $2,000 to $3,000.
The late Mary Lipshut amassed an estimated 6,000 clothing pieces many by Versace, Pucci, Missoni, Courreges and YSL when she was a buyer from the 1960s to the 1980s.
Many of the pieces of the glamorous octogenarian have made their way into museums including The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, New York, the Smithsonian and the National Gallery of Victoria.
Her furniture goes up at the <a href="https://shapiro.com.au/auctions/catalogues/sh100-2021c-art-and-design/?page=8" target="_blank">modern Art and Design sale</a> in Sydney on 30 July, having passed away from cancer, aged 89, in February,
The 211 Kooyong Road, Toorak home of the fashionista was sold in 1988 for $875,000. It had been bought in 1949.
Mary Lipshut's owned the Tempo and Sportempo boutiques in the 1970s and was the creator of the Meredith label.
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Fashion doyenne Mary Lipshut's 1950s Toorak home furniture sale

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The Summit aged-care industry boss Peter Wohl and his wife Jennifer have listed their cliff top Dover Heights home following their recent $38 million<a href="/news/aged-care-entrepreneur-peter-wohl-buys-ron-medich-point-piper-mansion"> purchase of property developer Ron Medich's Point Piper mansion</a>. 
The residence is tipped to exceed the Dover Heights record of $8.02 million which was surprisingly set earlier this year when a newly-built house on busy Military Road sold for more than $1 million over the reserve.
Offers are<a href="https://www.domain.com.au/property/for-sale/house/nsw/dover-heights/?adid=2011333144" target="_blank"> due by August 29</a> for the Douglas Parade listing.
Title Tattle recalls the Wohls bought the 970 square metre property in 1993 for $1,775,000 from US-based art critic heiress Sandra McGrath which was renovated by Frank Grill, who is reputedly indicated his latest Bellevue Hill project will be his last commission.
With interiors by Archer+Wright, the two-storey residence is built around a large deck with pool and spa, creating a dramatic backdrop of north-east facing ocean views to the rest of the house. The courtyard Michael Snape sculpture, which was installed by McGrath, is not included in the offering.
The house has reclaimed Versailles parquetry floors imported from France. 
There is a double garage with internal access and approved plans for a triple garage. 
Apparently there is a meditation retreat carved within the clifftop itself.
Martin Schiller of Savills and Bill Malouf, of LJ Hooker Double Bay have the trophy home listing.
The colourful McGrath cut a swathe through Sydney while raising her family with banker husband, Tony McGrath.
She critiqued art for The Australian and The Bulletin.
She also wrote both the The Artist And The River and The Artist And The Desert (with John Olsen) and then a 1979 <a href="https://users.tpg.com.au/waldrenm/whiteley" target="_blank">book on Brett Whiteley</a>.
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Dover Heights trophy home, but Michael Snape sculpture not included

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Ant Deague, the son of hotel entrepreneur David Deague, has his resort-style Toorak home listed for sale.
It is an elegant single-level home at 1 Eldene Court.
Kay &amp; Burton expect offers of $5 million.
Ant Deague replaced the house on the 590 square metre block (pictured below) which cost $2.26 million in 2012.
<img src="/images/2014/07/28/toorak%20july%2028%20two.jpg" alt="">
It has been listed as he's now off to St Georges Road, Toorak which he bought at weekend auction for $2.7 million at RT Edgar auction.
It's an art deco maisonette (pictured in the gallery at the top of page) which had five interested parties when offered by <a href="https://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/52-saint-georges-road-toorak/Property-Details-buy-residential-7319039" target="_blank">agents Ivan Galjar and Warwick Anderson</a>.
The original condition 1937 mansion four-bedroom house was lived owned by the late society couple Patricia and Gordon Jackson for five deacdes. 
Ant's brother, Jono recently sold in South Yarra.
Property entrepreneur Jono Deague and his wife, photographer Ella had $5 million plus hopes<a href="https://www.kayburton.com.au/property/99-millswyn-street-south-yarra" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;"> through Kay &amp; Burton agents Michael Armstrong and Michael Gibson</a>.
The couple undertook a major renovation on the Millswyn Street property when they moved into the Botantic Gardens precinct.
Jono (Jonathan) Deague is the executive director at Asia Pacific Group, which owns the Art Series Hotel Group, a collection of boutique hotels that includes the Blackman Hotel on St Kilda Road, Cullen Hotel in Prahran, and Olsen Hotel in South Yarra. 
<img src="/images/2014/07/28/south%20yarra%20july%2028.jpg" alt="">
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Ant Deague swapping Toorak mansion for masionette

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The Canberra neurospine specialist Dr Michael Ow-Yang and his wife Amanda have emerged as the buyers of the French chateau-inspired Bowral estate, Chateau Blondel.
It was sold for $3.5 million by local antique dealers Gary and Maryanne Nolan earlier this year.
They had bought the 5.7 hectare property in 2000 for $385,000.
It sold after its relisting in late 2013 with Bill Bridges of Ballard Property in conjunction with Ian Rayner of Ian Rayner Real Estate.
It was sold pre-auction, price undisclosed, on its recent auction marketing campaign through estate agents <a href="https://www.ballardproperty.com.au/Selling/recentsales/residentialdetail.aspx?id=WOOLLAHRA%202012118&amp;wlid=fbeafe75-a114-4ad4-bae9-5331323c00d1" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Bill Bridges</a> and <a href="https://www.ianrayner.com.au/search/display.aspx?ln=1893258" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">Ian Rayner</a>.
More than $4 million was being sought this time around for the house which was constructed in 2000 after the block was bought from Eukarima School.
Back in 2006 Title Tattle recalls the seven-bedroom, 17th-century French chateau-styled residence was for sale with a $7.9 million asking price.
From the entry to the 5.7-hectare property through 300-year-old cast-iron gates, the carriageway leads up to the porte-cochere.
With its walls 450 millimetres deep from 4,000 tonnes of quarried stone, the residence covers 975 square metres, with three state rooms, baroque dining hall, seven bedrooms and three bathrooms.
I also recall there were grazing English Suffolk sheep and alpacas in the frost-bitten grounds of the Centennial Road property that overlooks the nearby Centennial Vineyards.
The house name apparently dates back to an ancestral link to Jacques-Francois Blondel, Louis XV's architect.
The Berrima antiques dealers Maryanne and Gary Nolan were inspired by the work of French interior designer Jacques Garcia. 
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Chateau Blondel at Bowral sells to neurospine specialist

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The retired Rooty Hill-raised Rudd/Gillard government minister Greg Combet has somewhat turned silvertail snapping up a $1.84 million rooftop Cremorne Point penthouse.
And it was bought by the former coal miner at a 17% discount.
It was recently sold, price undisclosed, after being marketed as a "house-like penthouse". 
It was marketed at $1.8 million-plus after an earlier marketing campaign failed to secure close to its prior sale price.
Title Tattle recalls the penthouse had previously sold at an over-the-top $2.2 in 2007 when offloaded by Jennie Edgley, of the noted impresario family.
It came with 184 square metres of indoor/outdoor living occupying the top floor in a boutique art deco block.
It has expansive harbour views taking in bits of the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
It comes with huge entertainers' terrace with a private alfresco living area.
It has three bedrooms, plus study/reading room, two bathrooms and a single lock-up garage.
The former Combet home in the Newcastle district, on the posh part, The Hill, was sold last November for $342,000 having been bought for $285,000 in 2008, shortly after the former trade union boss began his failed federal parliamentary career in joining the first Rudd ministry in December 2007. He retired at the last election.
The son of a winemaker at Penfolds at the Minchinbury Estate, Combet was the member for the Charlton electorate after coming up from Melbourne after 14 years at the ACTU. The lower Hunter Valley electorate  includes the centres of Boolaroo, Cardiff, Cooranbong, Edgeworth, Elermore Vale, Fletcher, Minmi, Morisset, Speers Point, Toronto, Wangi Wangi, and parts of Wallsend and Warners Bay.
His great-grandfather, who migrated to the Hunter from France, once owned a wine bar near Cardiff in the electorate. 
It closed in the 1950s. 
"Imagine my pleasure when a very elderly and frail man came into my Cardiff campaign office and, after seeing my name on the window, asked if this was where the wine bar had moved to. He did say it was a long time between drinks!," Combet mentioned in his first speech to the parliament.
He also maintained a flat in Canberra.
This week he revealed the former Labor prime minister Julia Gillard offered to resign in his favour at the height of Labor's leadership instability.
Last December the South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill appointed Greg Combet to oversee the SA government's response to the car maker's plan to close, paid $160,000 annually to manage the rapid transition for the car industry prompted by Holden's departure plan.
Picture courtesy of Richard Taylor/flickr/<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/" target="_blank">Creative Commons</a>. 
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Greg Combet secures Cremorne Point penthouse at 17% discount

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Even billionaires can get it wrong - especially with Gold Coast sky-high mansions.
The tobacco king Sergey Katsiev sold his 48th floor Circle on Cavill penthouse for $3.2 million to a wealthy Australian investor.
But he's $2.25 million out of pocket.
The Surfers Paradise apartment, one of the city’s largest at 669 square metres, sold to Katsiev and his wife Liudmila Katsiev for $5.45 million in mid-2006.
He has a $1.6 billion tobacco fortune, according to <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/sergei-katsiev/" target="_blank">Forbes magazine</a> which says Katsiev made his fortune in tobacco after the fall of the Soviet Union. 
From 1991 to 1993 he worked in the government trade mission to the Netherlands.
 When he returned to Russia, he headed Mercury Tobacco Corporation, an importer of tobacco products owned by billionaire Igor Kesaev. In 1998 Katsiev founded his own company, Megapolis, which also sold tobacco products. 
In 2006 Katsiev and Kesaev merged their companies. Megapolis is now Russia's largest seller of tobacco products. 
In 2012 the company's revenues exceeded $12 billion. In one of the biggest-ever deals in the Russian consumer market, in December 2013 Philip Morris and Japan Tobacco International (JTI) announced they would each buy a 20% stake in Megapolis for a combined $1.5 billion.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-apartment-qld-surfers+paradise-117277055" target="_blank">Ray White Surfers Paradise sales agent Tolemy Stevens</a> secured the sale last week.
Circle on Cavill was developed by Sunland with around 650 apartments in 2007.
It includes two residential towers adjacent to the retail and office complex, which comprises ground-floor retail and A-grade office space, open-air restaurants and cafes.
International tourists liked the centre on its opening for its upmarket fashion labels.
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Circle on Cavill, Surfers Paradise price plunge for Russian billionaire

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The Lim family have listed their clinker brick Wolseley Road Point Piper property. It comes with U-shaped feng shui-inspired building plans. Some of the marketing photographs suggest it is a prized harbour front, but it is actually hillside.
It comes with approved plans for <a href="https://www.raywhite.com/nsw/point-piper/1170391/" target="_blank">a massive Alex Tzannes designed harbour-side home</a> offering 648 square metre of internal living space across three levels with sweeping Sydney Harbour views.
The plans - with one impression pictured above - endeavour to seek an "integrated free-flowing indoor/outdoor environment amid lush landscaped internal and external gardens, including an internal garden atrium and water-wall embracing the spiritual considerations of feng shui" through to a pool.
<a href="https://oceaniaproperty.com.au/point-piper.php" target="_blank">There are five bedroom suites, each with bathroom and walk-in robe, plus self-contained studio, office, and a state-of-the-art kitchen, butler's pantry, theatre, gym and garaging for four cars</a>.
Elliott Placks and Ashley Bierman at Ray White have the listing which last sold at a hefty $20.55 million in 2008. Apparently they want $30 million.
The property is a 678 square metre holding.
The development application was secured despite the opposition of entrepreneur Phil Green, the Vogliotti family and Bill Webb from across the road.
Julina Lim is from the<a href="https://oceaniaproperty.com.au/about-us.php" target="_blank"> Oceania Property Corporation</a>.
It was 2010 when the Lim family secured Land and Environment Court approval to proceed with the new $3.8 million four-storey home, though they have yet to proceed.
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U-turn as Lim family list hillside Wolseley Road, Point Piper offering

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Martindale, a Kings Cross terrace with 10 bedrooms and 11 bathrooms has been listed for sale by McGrath Estate Agents.
The property with a distinctive dark crimson facade at 52 Kellett Street features an insightful floor plan indicating (pictured below) the purposeful layout.
Click to open in new window:
<a href="/images/2014/07/22/potts-point-july-22-floor-plan.gif" target="_blank"><img src="/images/2014/07/22/potts-point-july-22-floor-plan.gif" alt=""></a>
It featured in the 1999 SMH report by the investigative duo Kate McClymont and Andrew Clennell entitled, "Our Brothel Barons".
At the time it reportedly traded as Classique, a brothel whose advertising once boasted of a speciality in lesbian double acts. It has more recently traded as Studio 52, Star 52, Antonio’s Angels and Secret Desire. The rates have been at around $120 for 30 minutes.
The building, which has been marketed as in Potts Point, was listed previously in 2011, 2012 and 2013 without success.
It last traded at $2.1 million in 2006 when bought by ETC Australias Group Pty Ltd. Its earlier sales were $1.5 million in 2004 and at $1.38 million in 1999.
The premises is for sale, not the business. Offers are due 27 August.
More than $1.8 million is being sought.
There is no registered lease, with no rental income advisory given in <a href="https://www.mcgrath.com.au/buy/house-potts-point-nsw-2011/228008/?searchID=41071082" target="_blank">the McGrath marketing</a>.
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10 bedrooms, 11 bathrooms: A Kings Cross special offering

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The luxury Gold Coast beachfront property, 241 Hedges Ave on Mermaid Beach, sold at $4 million yesterday, representing a $4.7 million loss.
There were four bidders.
The four bedroom Mediterranean style house on a 405 square metre block last traded in 2008 when bought by cotton farmer Alan Frost for $8.7 million from the Ray family.
<a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-mermaid+beach-117224899" target="_blank">The opening bid was $3.8 million</a> for the house with 650 square metre internal space with the auctioneer Colin Banks declaring the home on the market at $3.95 million. 
Its unimproved land value was recently put as $2.9 million, reflecting a $7,150 a square metre land value as against the market price at $9,900 a square metre.
The News Ltd local paper, the Gold Coast Bulletin said it sold to a Brisbane buyer.
It was marketed by the former high-flying agent Harry Kakavas in conjunction with Tony Velissariou.
The cotton farmer Alan Frost recently paid $6.6 million for 103-105 Hedges Avenue, Mermaid Beach – his third home on the exclusive strip known as millionaires’ row. <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-mermaid+beach-116934287" target="_blank">It was an 810 square metre double block </a><a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-mermaid+beach-116934287" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.3em;">holding</a>, reflecting $8,150 a square metre. 
The latest $4 million sale join the long list of loss takers with the delayed onset of the global financial crisis still playing havoc with prices
In late 2011 Property Observer recorded a 57% price drop at 199 Hedges Avenue on its 2007 pre-global financial crisis sale price.
The 199 Hedges Avenue property was bought by Parkdon Pty Ltd, a company associated with Avi Silver from Caulfield. The vendor, Max Twigg, also came from Melbourne.
It cost $17.5 million in 2007 and resold at $7.7 million in 2011, meaning the price dropped by about $50,000 a week during his four-year ownership.
Another $10 million plus loss on the Gold Coast's "Millionaires' Row" was incurred by the internet-billing company high flier Daniel Tzvetkoff, who splashed out $27 million in early 2008 on the unfinished mansion of fallen tourism entrepreneur Tony Smith and his wife, Simone.
At its mortgagee sale in 2009 it resold at $17 million to drilling tycoon Peter Mitchell, who was cashed up after selling his business for $150 million. Given the Ipswich-born internet whiz-kid spent $8 million on almost completing construction, Tzvetkoff's foray actually translated to an $18 million loss.
"As well as a reduction in the volume of sales, prices since the GFC have fallen by anywhere between 35% and 50%, with the most expensive homes generally suffering the greater price drops," HTW noted at the time in 2011. 
But losses have still been reoccurring with 237 Hedges Avenue selling last year at $3.35 million, which was down on the $3.65 million paid in 2011, and the $6.75 million peak paid in 2008.
Eight Mermaid Beach price collapses (compiled by Property Observer)
<ul>
<li>199 Hedges Avenue (pictured below), sold in 2011 for $7,700,000, last sold for $17.5 million in 2007, a loss of 57%.</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/stories/hedgesave199use.jpg">
<ul>
<li>247 Hedges Avenue (pictured below), sold in 2010 for $5 million, last sold for $10.25 million in 2007, a loss of 51%.</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/stories/hedgesave247.jpg">
<ul>
<li>31 Hedges Avenue (pictured below), sold in 2011 for $5.4 million, last sold for $11 million in 2008, a loss of 50%.</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/stories/hedgesave31.jpg">
<ul>
<li>19 Albatross Avenue (pictured below), sold in 2010 for $6 million, last sold for $11 million in 2008, a loss of 45%.</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/stories/albatross19right.jpg">
<ul>
<li>31 Albatross Avenue (pictured below), sold in 2009 for $5.35 million, last sold in 2008 for $9 million, a loss of 40%.</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/stories/albatross31.jpg">
<ul>
<li>49 Hedges Avenue (pictured below), sold in 2000 for $9.5 million, last sold in 2008 for $16 million, a loss of 40%</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/stories/hedgesave492.jpg">
<ul>
<li>89A Albatross Avenue (pictured below), sold in 2010 for $6.5 million, last sold in 2006 for $10 million, a loss of 35%</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/stories/albatross89.jpg">
<ul>
<li>33 Hedges Avenue (pictured below), sold in 2009 for $17 million, last sold in 2008 for $27 million, a loss of 37%</li>
</ul>
<img src="/images/stories/hedges33.jpg">
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